Series of metro-east ‘violent crime’ crackdowns yields to 286 gun seizures

An Illinois State Police series of “violent crime suppression” operations has continued with at least the 18th version in the East St. Louis area yielding 37 arrests and 13 guns seized.

Since these operations began in June 2023, officers have made 609 arrests and seized 286 guns, according to a Belleville News-Democrat review of announcements from Illinois State Police.

In the latest round, officers from around the state converged in communities near East St. Louis in Madison and St. Clair counties on Sept. 22-24, Illinois State Police said in a news release Monday.

The names of the persons arrested were not released.

In one traffic stop on Sept. 22, a rifle, handgun and cannabis was seized and the driver and passenger were arrested, according to the news release.

During a traffic stop on Sept. 24, officers arrested a suspect and seized a handgun with two additional magazines.

The agency didn’t release the locations of where the arrests occurred during the multi-day operation.