Federal authorities announce the apprehension of 19 fugitives

Federal authorities announced the apprehension of 19 fugitives as part of a multi-agency operation.

FBI Pittsburgh, U.S. Marshals Service, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Fugitive Apprehension units partnered to investigate and arrest the suspects between Oct. 6 and Oct. 10.

Authorities said the focus of the operation was in Western Pennsylvania. However, arrests took place as far as North Carolina and Kansas.

Offenses included drug trafficking, firearms possession, sexual battery of a child, child rape, terroristic threats and human trafficking.

The weeklong push resulted in the seizure of crack cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, marijuana, three firearms and tens of thousands of dollars in illicit drug proceeds, according to the report.

Part of the operation involved executing a search warrant and apprehension of a fugitive in Penn Hills.

“Law enforcement at all levels shares the same goal: Protect the communities we serve,”said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek in a news release. “This operation proves our commitment to that mission.

“It does not matter if you’re in Western Pennsylvania, across the United States, or anywhere else in the world, the FBI and our partners will find you and will bring you to justice. We take crushing violent crime to heart, and we will not stop.”