NEWARK, NJ—FBI Newark Safe Streets Gang Task Forces based in Newark Headquarters and the North Jersey Violent Crime Task Force based at the Garret Mountain Resident Agency worked with law enforcement agencies in Hudson, Passaic and Essex Counties to organize a month-long effort titled Operation Clean House to proactively locate and arrest violent offenders in a strategic effort to address violent crime. FBI agents, task force officers, and detectives made 29 arrests beginning November 1, through December 1, 2023. The charges range from drug possession, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin, to manslaughter and murder.

• Passaic County – 14 subjects
• Hudson County – 10 subjects
• Essex County – 5 subjects

This operation was successful because of the dedication and partnership with our local, county and state partners listed below:

• New Jersey State Police
• Passaic County Sheriff’s Office
• Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office
• Paterson Police Department
• Hudson County Sheriff’s Office
• Jersey City Police Department
• Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office

“One of our top priorities is to address violent crime in a proactive strategic manner and assist our partners by using all the resources we have access to as a federal agency. We do this collectively, and in close consultation with our partners to include the NJSP Investigations Branch, whose strategic targeting and data analysis has been instrumental in driving operations such as these. We intend to continue weeding out criminals who are wreaking havoc in our communities and want this to serve as a warning to others – this operation isn’t the end,” said FBI Newark Special Agent-in-Charge James E. Dennehy.

“This coordinated multi-agency initiative represents a significant step towards reducing violent crime in the area. The success of this fugitive sweep demonstrates the importance of working collaboratively with our partners proving that law enforcement is stronger when we work together,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.

“Removing these violent recidivist offenders from our streets validates our commitment to keeping our communities safe. We will continue with our proactive approach through intelligence driven initiatives.”

“The PCPO is grateful for the opportunity to serve with our partner agencies to address violent crime every day. We will continue our efforts to ensure public safety in Passaic County and beyond. Today’s efforts are one of many to ensure residents are safe in their communities,” said Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes.

“The Passaic County Sheriff’s Office was honored to participate in Operation Clean House. I want to commend the FBI’s leadership in helping to coordinate this operation,” said Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik, “The number of arrests yielded by this investigation is significant and very meaningful as we work toward taking criminals off the streets of not only Passaic County, but New Jersey in general.”

“Leveraging all available resources to identify and apprehend those that seek to drive fear and disorder in our community is the cornerstone of precision policing. This operation demonstrates the Paterson Police Department’s commitment to reducing violence in our community and keeping Patersonians safe. We owe a debt of gratitude to our FBI Newark, County, and local partners without whom we would not be able to address violence as effectively as we have in 2023,” said Paterson Police Department Officer-In-Charge Isa M. Abbassi.

“I am incredibly proud of the officers of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office for their contributions to this endeavor as well as our long-time partnership with the FBI, the results of which speak for themselves. I want to thank the great men and women of the law enforcement agencies of Hudson, Passaic, and Essex Counties, who worked tirelessly in collaboration with the FBI to ensure these violent offenders are removed from our streets,” said Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari.

“Earlier this week, we announced historic crime decreases in Jersey City for 2023, and we credit our close collaborations with state and county agencies, including the FBI and HCPO, for removing violent criminals from our streets and targeting the most dangerous and persistent issues so that we can work on improving quality of life for our residents and community in Jersey City,” said Director of Jersey City’s Department of Public Safety James Shea.

The FBI Newark Safe Streets Task Forces in both Newark and Garret Mountain are comprised of agents and detectives with the New Jersey State Police, Paterson Police Department, Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Cedar Grove Police Department, Clifton Police Department, Elizabeth Police Department, Jersey City Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Irvington Police Department, and the NJ Department of Corrections.

The FBI’s goal is stopping violent crime, getting drugs and weapons off the streets, and delivering justice for crimes committed in our communities and against U.S. citizens. Violent crime is not a problem that can be solved by law enforcement alone, we need the help of the community. You can provide an anonymous tip to an FBI Newark at 973-792-3000, at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or at tips.fbi.gov.