LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — A press conference brought in multiple law enforcement agencies to announce the success of a multi-agency investigation.

Leaders with the Lexington police department, Kentucky State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) came together Thursday to announce the arrest of more than half a dozen people for firearm offenses and drug-related crimes in Lexington. Shawn Morrow is the special agent in charge of the Louisville field division of ATF. Morrow was at the conference representing his agency.

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“These are the types of offenders who continue to threaten our neighborhoods despite previous run-ins with the judicial system,” Morrow said.

The defendants have more than 100 felony arrests between them for sexual offenses, drug trafficking, robbery with firearms, and non-fatal shootings.

“Lexington, like many cities across the United States, has suffered from firearms and drug-related violent crime, including a record number of homicides over the last couple of years, and that’s really important. Everybody in this community should be outraged by that,” Morrow said.

The arrests were the result of a months-long investigation, followed by a long few days of executing state and felony warrants. A real-time intelligence center played a key role in making it happen, and Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers credited this technology for the progress.

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“While the technology does not replace personnel, it certainly helped provide information that proved invaluable to this operation. We’re proud to assist our federal and state partners in locating wanted subjects who chose to hide in Lexington,” Weathers said.

The group’s work isn’t done yet. Of the 12 people they were going after, nine have been arrested so far. Agency leaders said it’s not a matter of if they’ll be caught


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More than half a dozen individuals have been taken into custody in Lexington, according to ATF

In a news release on Thursday, ATF said it has arrested “more than a half a dozen” individuals on firearm and drug-related charges, following an investigation alongside Lexington Police and Kentucky State Police.

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A press conference was held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. FOX 56 News will have more information as soon as it becomes available.