'Operation Clean Sweep' nets 31 arrests

SIKESTON -- The streets of Sikeston and surrounding communities had a little cleanup on Wednesday.

"Operation Clean Sweep" kicked off before dawn, with officers from various law enforcement agencies in the area setting out with indictments for some 60 individuals, concentrated in the Sikeston area but reaching as far north as Cape Girardeau and as far south as Blytheville, Ark.

Chief Drew Juden, director of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, noted this roundup is different than those DPS has done in the past.

"This roundup was part of an ongoing investigation into drug distribution in the southeast Missouri region and involved both federal and state agencies and resulted in the warrants issued Wednesday morning," he said, noting it was the result of an 18-month investigation. "It was a joint investigation between us, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation."

No city warrants were issued -- there were around 50 state and 17 federal indictments, said Juden.

According to a news release from the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri,the indictment "alleges that 17 named individuals, along with others, were involved in a conspiracy that took place between October of 2009 and Aug. 3, 2011 in Scott County, Missouri and elsewhere."

Juden added that the bulk of the officers involved in the roundup were released by noon Wednesday and when concluded, 31 individuals had been taken into custody

In addition to those with warrants, at least one outside arrest was made, for possession of marijuana.

For more comments and a list of those arrested, check out the Sept. 1 print or electronic edition.