APD highlights dozens of arrests during Central Ave. operations

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque’s police chief says they’re making progress cleaning up crime hotspots along Central Avenue, specifically with recent operations going after guns and drugs. Chief Harold Medina says they began targeting Central in January after an officer was shot at Adam Food Market in December.

“I’ve heard the community speak over and over again, speak about the fact that they were tired of the narcotics that were occurring on Central and they wanted us to do something about the narcotics dealers,” Chief Medina said.

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Chief Medina and other high-ranking Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officials spoke about the new operation: consisting of their Central Narcotics Unit and their Gun Violence Suppression Unit. As a result of this operation, APD made 28 felony arrests and cleared 24 felony warrants ranging from robbery, child abuse, burglary, and trafficking.

APD highlighted two of those arrests, including one who had four felony warrants and was caught with large quantities of fentanyl, meth, heroin, cocaine, and more along with guns.

“We are committed to working on Central, committed to arresting drug dealers, committed to making sure we do everything we can to take firearms off of Central,” Chief Medina said.

APD says those units are working with the DEA and the ATF for any cases that rise to the federal level. Chief Medina said Tuesday he is expanding this operation to Menaul and Louisiana.

The Central Narcotics Unit has eight full-time detectives and the Gun Violence Suppression Unit has six detectives working in problem areas of Central.

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