The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has equipped the Interdiction Criminal Apprehension Team (ICAT) with three new high-performance Ford Mustangs to support their mission of intercepting criminal activity on Hillsborough County roadways.
ICAT was launched on May 27, 2024, as a proactive enforcement team dedicated to identifying and stopping in-transit criminal operations, including human trafficking, drug trafficking, and weapons violations.
“These vehicles send a clear message to anyone trying to poison our loved ones with drugs or traffic weapons and people through our county: We will find you, and we will stop you,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “We’ve given our ICAT deputies the tools they need to stay one step ahead of criminals who think they can exploit our community. They’re wrong.”
In just one year, ICAT has made a significant impact on local roadways:
- Conducted over 7,700 traffic stops
- Issued nearly 1,000 citations
- Made 602 arrests
- Removed 108 firearms during these criminal investigations
- Seized 11 vehicles
- Recovered more than $222,000 in cash
- Removed 168 pounds of narcotics before they could reach neighborhoods
The newly issued Ford Mustang vehicles are equipped to match the high demands of interdiction and provide the team with an enhanced ability to target and disrupt criminal activity moving through Hillsborough County, ensuring safer Central Florida roadways for everyone in the community…