Hartford Drug Sales Continue in Wake of Major Anti-Drug Operation
The following adaptation is based on an article by Edmund H. Mahoney, (Hartford Man, 22, Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Conspiracy To Distribute Cocaine, 12-04-2009, Hartford Courant), and is part of a demonstration project on drug policy conducted by the publication Drug War Chronicle.
A Hartford resident arrested in a law enforcement crackdown on gang-related violence and drug dealing was sentenced Friday to two years in prison, the Hartford Courant reported. The man, who is 22, was one of 55 people arrested by a task force composed of local, state and federal prohibition agents in an operation titled "Operation Solid Gold." Prosecutors said the man was supplied with cocaine by a member of the Latin Kings gang who controlled drug trafficking in the Arnold Street area.
According to a Connecticut US Attorney's Office, "Operation Solid Gold" took a year and involved court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin, and physical surveillance.
Sales and use of illegal drugs have continued in the area since that time, despite the expenditure of law enforcement resources to target the now-former dealers. Other cities have found the drug trade tends to return to previous levels within a couple of weeks from the conclusion of such operations.
