海角破解版

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced Friday the creation of a new task force in Cleveland aimed at taking down drug trafficking and violent crime.

A mix of federal and local agencies 鈥� including the FBI, the US Attorney, and the Cleveland police -- will work in one building as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force.

鈥淭hose agencies have diverse capabilities,鈥� said Rosenstein. 鈥淏y working together with a single mission, we know they can make an impact in dismantling drug organizations here and internationally.鈥�

While some of the agencies have worked together before, FBI Special Agent in Charge Steve Anthony says a coalition dealing with drugs and crime collectively is unprecedented.

鈥淭his strike realizes you can鈥檛 separate the drug trade, the epidemic impacting our communities from the violent crime that goes along with it,鈥� said Anthony.

The strike force will target gangs as well as organizations involved in producing and selling opioids.

Cleveland鈥檚 task force is the 16 ^th of its kind in the country.

The federal government will cover costs such as rent but an office location has not yet been determined. Regardless of the space, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman says the agencies are already working collaboratively.

鈥淲e have already identified cases and targets, we are working together as a team already regardless of whether we鈥檙e already co-located under one roof,鈥� said Herdman.

Rosenstein and others pointed to Ohio鈥檚 high rate of drug overdose deaths as a reason for the Cleveland task force. Herdman says local residents should be able to see the impact of the group鈥檚 work.

鈥淲e are going to see less violent crime, we鈥檙e going to see less overdose deaths, and we鈥檙e ultimately going to have a safer and healthier community as a result of this strike force,鈥� said Herdman.