Police Arrest Dozens on Drug, Weapons Charges

Fairfax County Police Department officials announced Thursday they had arrested more than 100 people on 168 charges ranging from drugs to weapons to murder-for-hire. 

After nearly a yearlong operation, officers and detectives have arrested at least 101 people for crimes ranging from possession of stolen property to attempted murder-for-hire.

Along with the arrests, more than $560,000, 23 guns, two bullet-proof vests, stolen electronics, jewelry, credit cards and tools were recovered, police said at Thursday's news conference. Police also recovered 10 pounds of cocaine, 30 pounds of marijuana, and electronics such as iPhones and iPods.

About 80 arrests were made in the past 10 months; about 30 arrests were made Thursday in a sweep that took place at 4:30 a.m.

Fairfax County is not considered a high-crime rate county and the police department will not put up with crime in the area, Chief of Police David M. Rohrer said. 

"We have seen the crime rate plummet over the years," he said. "We're blessed to serve a caring and supportive community."

First Lieutenant David M. Smith said the department does not attribute the bulk of the criminal activity to one specific gang organization.

The investigation, conducted with the Prince William County Police Department and the Virginia State Police, involved more than 75 officers and took more than a year. The majority of the arrests and related incidents were in southeastern Fairfax County and Prince William County along the Richmond Highway/Route 1 corridor.