FROM FOX NEWS: An FBI special agent based in Chicago gave Fox News Digital a deeper look into the bureau’s operations combating violence as the Windy City continues to make headlines for its crime wave.
“In the city of Chicago, what I deal with most frequently are carjackings, commercial robberies, and our fugitive program. But along with that is the illicit drug trade. So narcotics, unfortunately, are at epidemic levels all over the country,” Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert Wieczorek said.
Wieczorek works from the FBI’s Chicago Field Office.
“Chicago’s a very attractive destination because it’s geographically centrally located. You can use that as a distribution hub. Chicago specifically, we have interstates that run north and south, east and west. We have a robust railway system. We have two international airports. We have smaller airports. We have Lake Michigan. We have rivers,” he said.
“Along with that, we also have a large end-user market,” he continued. “And that is driven by street gangs, which creates another problem, because that drug trade is driven by violence. A lot of our neighborhood violence is accentuated and is a byproduct of the drug trade, whether that’s on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis or a larger distribution network.”
He went on to talk about initiatives the FBI engages in including, Operation Summer Heat aimed at reducing violent crime, and Operation Restore Justice, “a multi-agency operation led by the FBI, where, for multiple operational cycles, we prioritize surging resources towards identifying and finding sexual predators.”
WATCH:
Wieczorek‘S comments come as President Donald J. Trump said that he will be deciding “over the next day or two” where he will may send troops and ICE agents as part of his crime crackdown. Chicago is at the top of the list of potential targets.
In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump wrote: “6 people were murdered in Chicago this weekend, 12 others were shot, and in serious condition. This would mean that over the past number of weeks, approximately 50 people were killed, and hundreds were shot, many expected to die. Governor Pritzker just stated that he doesn’t want Federal Government HELP! WHY??? What is wrong with this guy, and the 5% in Polls Mayor.
“I want to help the people of Chicago, not hurt them. Only the Criminals will be hurt! We can move fast and stop this madness. The City and State have not been able to do the job. People of Illinois should band together and DEMAND PROTECTION. IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE!!! ACT NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT.”
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