Video Transcript

Violent crime is on the minds of many Americans right now–top of mind for police chiefs and sheriffs, who constantly tell me that the rising rate of gang and gun violence is one of their most important and difficult challenges.

So, I’d like to tell you about some of the work we’ve been doing with our local partners in over 300 FBI task forces around the country.

This summer, across the nation, the FBI and our partners arrested nearly 6,000 violent criminals. That's an average of 50 violent criminals a day. Every day.

In the process, we seized more than 2,700 guns from those criminals.

We executed take downs that put a huge dent in 845 gangs and violent criminal enterprises.

And we completely dismantled 105 of those criminal enterprises–arresting their leadership and seizing their assets.

I believe the FBI’s most sacred duty is to ensure people can live free from fear in their own homes and neighborhoods. To that end, we dedicate agents, analysts, and technical resources across the country to work with state and local law enforcement on these operations.

A few recent examples:

• Over the course of just one day in August, our offices in Little Rock, Dallas, and Knoxville each conducted operations targeting local street gangs–groups responsible for committing violence and trafficking drugs in communities throughout those three areas. Collectively, the operations resulted in dozens or arrests and the seizure of more than 30 unlawfully possessed firearms and loads of dangerous drugs.
• In September, our Albuquerque office conducted the largest takedown of fentanyl ever for the FBI—arresting four people with more than 1 million fentanyl pills. That's enough fentanyl to have killed thousands of people. On top of that, officers seized 140 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 35 firearms, and about $1.8 million in cash. 
• And just last week, based on work out of our Cleveland office, the Department of Justice charged 14 members of a drug trafficking organization that was responsible for distributing dangerous drugs like crack, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues in communities in and around Youngstown, Ohio.

Those are just a few examples.

I am proud of the work done by FBI personnel around the country, and grateful to our law enforcement partners who work shoulder to shoulder with us to protect our communities and keep Americans safe.

We plan to keep up the good work. Thank you.