U.S. Justice Department to launch new crackdown on firearms trafficking
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[July 22, 2021]
By Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice
Department this week is formally launching a new effort to crack down on
firearms trafficking, in a strategy that involves the creation of five
strike forces that will partner with local law enforcement to disrupt
criminals selling guns used in crimes.
The strike forces, which were first announced in June , will be
concentrated in "significant gun trafficking corridors" including New
York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Justice Department officials said in a call with reporters on Wednesday
that the plan entails a "long-term coordinated, multi-jurisdictional
strategy" to disrupt trafficking patterns.
One department official said the new strategy differed from prior
efforts to step up the prosecution of firearms offenses, noting it
establishes "cross-jurisdictional coordination" between the areas that
supply the illegal firearms and those where the guns are used to commit
crimes.
"This new approach that links law enforcement and prosecutors and
locations where violence is occurring with the law enforcement and
prosecutors in the jurisdictions where the firearms originate broadens
our focus to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated response in both of
those areas," the official added.
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A woman walks past the U.S. Department of Justice Building, in
Washington, U.S., December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Al Drago
The Justice Department also said that federal law
enforcement is stepping up efforts in other ways as well.
For instance, the U.S. Marshals Service recently conducted a sweep
with state and local authorities to pick up fugitives wanted for
state crimes such as murder, aggravated assault and rape.
Since May 31, more than 700 fugitives have been arrested, 361 of
whom were wanted for murder, the official said.
(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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