Chicago Police: Sweep of North, West side drug markets nets 70 Negro Drug Dealers Arrested - Sheriff Tom Dart & State Senator Bill Cunningham: As fast as they arrest them, we will release them with our ROCKET DOCKET EARLY RELEASE LAW

More than 70 Negro Drug Dealers were arrested, most on felony charges, in a sweep of four North and West side drug markets in recent days, according to Chicago police.

Police targeted the areas because of fentanyl-laced heroin that's contributed to growing numbers of overdoses and violence tied to the illegal drug trade, said Anthony Riccio, chief of organized crime for the Chicago Police Department.

"Fentanyl is what brought us here ... that's what brought us to this particular location," he said, in a rainy West Side press conference about a block away from one of the targeted areas, in front of a Red X building on the corner of St. Louis and Walnut avenues just north of Garfield Park.

"The Bureau of Organized Crime conducted two significant operations this week. The first operation targeted narcotics sales here on the city's West Side. These sales are conducted by local street gang members and fund the purchase of firearms that are used in these neighborhoods," Riccio said.

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