News/Commentary

FBI charges 35 in West Virginia drug and firearms bust, launches nationwide initiative

June 3, 2026 | | Print Article

Charges against nearly three dozen in West Virginia marked the beginning of what the FBI called Operation Summer Heat 2.0, continuing former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s effort to “crush violent crime.”

Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel joined leaders from multiple law enforcement agencies in Martinsburg, West Virginia. It was there that he touted the success of Operation Turf War in bringing charges against 35 as the beginning of three months of coordinated efforts across the country.

“We’re just getting started.”

A post from the FBI’s Rapid Response account on X emphasized a Fox News report and said, “We will RELENTLESSLY ATTACK crime in this country! This summer it’s a BAD TIME to be a BAD GUY!! Operation Summer Heat 2.0 is a GO!”

Within the report, Patel was quoted as telling Fox News Digital, “Operation Turf War was this FBI answering the call of a community that needed it the most.”

The operation launched by field offices in Pittsburgh and Baltimore in 2025 led to charges for alleged narcotics and firearms offenses against 35 people.

ADVERTISEMENT

“This was a massively successful operation right in West Virginia with nearly three dozen individuals arrested using sophisticated techniques, confidential informants, and precise collaboration across the entire FBI enterprise with our partners,” said the director as the operation demonstrated “exactly what partnerships are supposed to look like.”

During a press conference, Patel further stressed partnerships and President Donald Trump’s administration’s ongoing support of law and order. He detailed that the previous iteration of Operation Summer Heat resulted in over 8,600 arrests, roughly 7,750 search operations, and the seizure of 2,280 firearms and more than 44,500 kilograms of cocaine.

“For the next 95 days, the entire country will see this FBI replicating these exact efforts across America with Operation Summer Heat — an extension of our work last year led by then-Deputy Director Dan Bongino to crush violent crime,” said Patel. “We’re just getting started.”

The operation was expected to run through the summer until Sept. 20 and follows on the heels of Operation Spring Cleaning.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to the director, the operation from March 1 through May 31 has resulted in 1,139 arrests, 984 firearm seizures, 615 criminal indictments, and 586 search warrants, as well as the seizure of 509 kilograms of cocaine and 48 kilograms of fentanyl. “The most prolific run of crime reduction in U.S. history continues.”

In order to facilitate crimefighting, Patel reminded of the mandate handed down from Trump to “update and advance the capabilities of the FBI.” This included an announcement regarding DNA tools and a program at the state and local level where swabs taken from suspects could be run against existing databases to determine if there are any outstanding warrants, known associates, or other pertinent details potentially related to ongoing investigations. “That is moving at the speed at which we need to move to combat violent crime in this country. That is what you are seeing up here. This is no small endeavor.”

Kevin Haggerty
Latest posts by Kevin Haggerty (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles