U.S. Attorney James Kennedy on Monday provided an update on progress in the ongoing Federal Violence Prevention and Elimination Response, or VIPER, Task Force.
It's a 60-day effort to remove violent gun offenders from the streets to enhance public safety and reduce violent crime in the Buffalo and Rochester regions.
From July 7-30, Kennedy said there have been:
- 125 firearm-related arrests, 56 of them in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area
- 217 narcotics-related arrests, including 176 of them locally
- 142 violent felony arrests, including 56 of them locally
- 68 firearms were seized, including 17 by the Buffalo office
- 18 defendants are awaiting federal prosecution
- 52 other arrests are under review for possible federal prosecution
Several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are working with the Justice Department's VIPER task force.
