Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino announced sweeping results from “Operation Summer Heat,” a nationwide crackdown that has already led to thousands of arrests and weapons seizures.
Bongino said the operation launched in June and continues to “deliver results as we strive to protect the communities we serve.”
“I want to provide you another update on your @FBI’s Operation Summer Heat, which continues to deliver results as we strive to protect the communities we serve. By uniting with our communities and law enforcement partners, we stay prepared and resilient together,” Bongino posted on X.
He detailed several cases tied to the operation.
In New York, FBI teams arrested a suspect in the robbery of a gas station where an elderly employee was working, per the Conservative Brief.
In Seattle, agents took down a large-scale street gang. “The @FBISeattle office saw a major success as they investigated a large-scale street gang, which resulted in the collection of 23 firearms and over 9,800 grams in drug seizures,” Bongino said.
He added that the gang was using female couriers to move pills in luggage from Arizona to Seattle and Baltimore airports.
In Florida, Bongino said the FBI worked with the DEA, USPS, DOL, and Lakeland Police Department to target the violent “Hood Boys” gang. Twelve members were charged with PPP loan fraud.
According to indictments, the gang submitted false loan applications, received between $13,854 and $20,416 each, and then defaulted or had the loans forgiven.
“The defendants spent the money on automobile payments and purchases at liquor stores, clothing stores, and gun stores,” Bongino said. He noted the total loss was about $236,000 and that the group had ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The operation also hit New Orleans. “Collaboration between @FBINewOrleans and our partners to include ATF, U.S. Marshals, and the New Orleans Police Department, we all worked to remove illegal guns and narcotics off the streets,” Bongino wrote.
The New Orleans raids led to 60 felony arrests, 31 narcotics seizure events, and the removal of more than $39,000 in drugs.
Since June, Operation Summer Heat has resulted in 6,328 arrests and nearly 1,700 firearms seized. Bongino said the bureau has also located or identified about 770 children.
“These numbers will only continue to grow along with YOUR FBI’s dedication and vigilance. God bless America, and all those who defend Her,” Bongino concluded.
Bongino also revealed new developments tied to former FBI Director James Comey. He said his team discovered a hidden room filled with documents from Comey’s tenure.
“I wouldn’t call it hidden, but hidden from us at least and not mentioned to us, and then we found stuff in there and a lot of it’s from the Comey-era,” Bongino told Fox News.
He added that the bureau is now working to declassify the material. “We found it in bags hiding under Jim Comey’s FBI, and you’re going to be stunned,” Bongino said.
