52 Charged In Bust Of Drug Trafficking Ring In Upstate NY

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say they've arrested dozens of people involved with a major narcotics trafficking operation in central New York.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman joined local, state and federal law enforcement officials Thursday in Syracuse to announce the arrest of 52 people on charges that include murder, criminal drug sale and conspiracy.

Officials say the yearlong investigation was dubbed Operation Bricktown, named for a violent gang that has operated in Syracuse for more than a decade. Authorities say five suspected gang members have been charged with planning to kill rival gang members in the city. Members of another gang face similar charges.

All the suspects were arrested during a series of raids conducted Wednesday and Thursday in Onondaga, Cortland, Madison, Monroe and Oswego counties.