SAVANNAH, Ga. - Federal authorities in Savannah have charged 33 people as part of an undercover operation into gun and drug trafficking.
A majority of those named in 17 federal indictments that were unsealed today are from Georgia and South Carolina. The investigation, dubbed Operation Pulaski, began in late 2011.
Undercover federal agents infiltrated multiple regional and international criminal organizations. Over time, the agents bought 189 guns, illegal drugs and stolen vehicles.
Investigators found that the vehicles were stolen from the New York City area and were brought to the Southeast for resale or to be shipped abroad and sold.
Authorities believe 26 of those arrested are convicted felons. Eleven are believed to be in the country illegally. A number of the guns the undercover agents bought had also been reported stolen.