Part of nationwide initiative to crush violent crime
The Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made 176 arrests over the past three months as part of Operation Summer Heat 2.0, the FBI’s nationwide effort to work in partnership with its federal, state, and local partners to crush violent crime.
“It’s no secret that violent crime often surges in the summer, which is why the FBI and our partners joined forces to combat it by removing repeat violent offenders, gang members, drug traffickers, child predators, bank robbers, and fugitives from our streets,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Every arrest sends a message: If you choose violence, if you choose to pollute our neighborhoods with deadly poison, if you choose to traffic illegal firearms, and harm our children, we’re coming for you.”
Between June 1 and September 20, all FBI field offices participated in the multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. The FBI surged resources alongside state and local partners, executing federal and state warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, dismantling violent gangs, identifying and rescuing child victims, and resolving violent crime cases in Indian Country.
Nationally, Operation Summer Heat 2.0 led to 8,927 arrests, the recovery of 5,013 illegal weapons, the seizure of 687 kilos of deadly fentanyl, and 27,512 kilos of cocaine. Additionally, agents, task force officers, and intelligence analysts investigating violent crimes against children identified or located 1,410 child victims.
These successes follow the FBI’s announcement in August that the nation’s violent crime rate fell 9% in 2025, with an 18% drop in murder and nonnegligent manslaughter.
Locally, FBI Boston—which includes all of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island—made 176 arrests under the Summer Heat 2.0 initiative, seized almost 50 kilos of deadly drugs, recovered 69 illegal weapons, and identified/located 44 children.
“These statistics tell a story, but the real impact is measured in safer neighborhoods, and lives potentially saved,” Docks said.
Among the highlights:
The FBI’s Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, Chicopee Police Department, and our partners throughout western Massachusetts took down Operation Pinky Promise—a months-long collaborative drug trafficking investigation in Hampden County—that resulted in 28 arrests, the seizure of 12 high-capacity firearms, including an AK-47 and two AR-15’s, along with the removal hundreds of fentanyl pills, heroin, and over a kilo of cocaine from circulation.
The FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations-New England, and our partners charged 26 alleged leaders, members, and associates of the Lawrence, Haverhill, and Boston Chapters of the Trinitarios, a violent transnational criminal organization, with RICO conspiracy related to five murders and 19 attempted murders, efforts to kill witnesses, the trafficking of dozens of kilos of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine to New Hampshire and Maine, extortion of legitimate businesses with the threat of violence, kidnappings and robberies.
FBI Boston’s Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) located and arrested several violent state fugitives, including two serial bank robbers, and another career bank robber who was sought in connection with a violent home invasion in Malden, Massachusetts, where the victim was pistol whipped. The VCTF also disrupted an alleged Metro West violent robbery crew targeting small business owners and check cashing businesses. Additionally, the VCTF assisted Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in identifying three suspects in connection with the homicide of a Cambridge Department of Public Works employee on July 4, 2026.
The FBI’s Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force and its partners arrested 27 gang members, drug traffickers, and child predators, seized 16 firearms, including two AR-15s and two fully automatic pistols, and five pounds of crystal methamphetamine. The FBI also assisted the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force in locating and arresting 11 fugitives, including Ronald L. Fisher—one of Rhode Island’s most wanted fugitives who was on the run for more than 20 years.
And in Maine, FBI Boston’s Maine Safe Streets Gang Task Force and Child Exploitation-Human Trafficking Task Force, with the assistance of its Homeland Security Task Force partners, made 23 arrests, recovered four illegal firearms, identified/recovered 15 child victims, and conducted 18 drug seizures including 2.5 kilos fentanyl and 1.8 kilos of methamphetamine.