December 15 marked the conclusion of a four-month gang and violence reduction initiative called Operation Triple Beam in San Antonio.

Since September 18, the U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety have removed 70 guns from San Antonio streets, arrested 215 people, seized $233,373 during drug related arrests and taken out of circulation a variety of illegal drugs with a street value of $176,153. The agencies involved also conducted 51 sex offender compliance checks to ensure offenders were following court mandated restrictions.

Led by the U.S. Marshals Service Gang Enforcement Unit, Operation Triple Beam focuses multiple agencies on targeted areas to reduce gang violence and dismantle gang infrastructures. U.S. Marshals fugitive task forces have the unique ability to bring multiple agencies with a wide variety of jurisdictions to bear, and the Gang Enforcement Unit is able to assist with funding the additional hours needed to conduct the focused warrant operations and search warrants.