FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 21, 2026
United Resolve Lynchburg Nets 140 Fugitives, Illegal Firearms, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine
Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative Unites 21 Federal, State, and Local Agencies to Enhance Community Safety in Lynchburg and Surrounding Communities
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Law enforcement leaders from more than 20 agencies across the greater Lynchburg area announced the results of Operation United Resolve today.
Between August 1, 2026, and August 31, 2026, law enforcement officers from 21 partner agencies arrested 140 fugitives and executed 316 warrants. The operation resulted in the seizure of more than 600 grams of cocaine, 25 grams of fentanyl, 212 grams of MDMA, and 30 grams of methamphetamine. The quantity of fentanyl seized during the operation was enough to result in over 10,000 fatal overdoses.
In addition to the drug seizures, 29 firearms, including 15 handguns, 14 long guns, and one machine gun were taken off the streets, along with $80,159 in cash. Officers also recovered 1,036 images of Child Sexual Abuse Material.
Official Statements
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert N. Tracci: “This Office is dedicated to strengthening federal, state, and local partnerships to promote safe neighborhoods throughout the Western District of Virginia. I commend our federal, state and local partners, Chief Edwards of the Lynchburg Police Department, Acting U.S. Marshal Davis, Lynchburg area sheriffs, and the men and women who made this combined mission a success. This operation follows prior highly successful multiagency Project Safe Neighborhood operations in Danville and Roanoke, and more are on the way.”
Lynchburg Police Chief Kennith R. Edwards, Jr.: “The success of this operation highlights the undeniable power of strong, collaborative partnerships. Protecting our neighborhoods and community often requires an all-hands approach. Working diligently with our federal, state, and local partners allows us to pool our strength, hold violent offenders accountable, and deliver the peace of mind and security that every resident in Lynchburg deserves.”
U.S. Marshals Service, Western District of Virginia: “In accordance with the directives of the President, Attorney General, and our Director, the U.S. Marshals Service, Western District of Virginia, is committed to being engaged, at the highest level, with each of our partner Federal, State, and Local agencies to ensure success in making our communities safe… The combined efforts of these types of operations, led by the Marshals Service, is frankly impressive, and we are humbled to be a part of the Virginia law enforcement team.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Cindy Marx (Washington Division): “The success of this remarkable enforcement operation demonstrates the collective efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement working together to protect communities in Western Virginia from violent crime and illegal narcotics. The DEA remains committed to defending our country from deadly drugs and dangerous drug trafficking organizations harming, damaging, and destroying our communities.”
ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood: “Operation United Resolve demonstrates the impact we can achieve when local, state and federal law enforcement agencies unite behind a shared mission. The arrests made, firearms recovered and warrants executed represent more than statistics: they represent violent offenders taken off our streets and dangerous weapons and drugs removed from our communities.”
FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Smith: “This past month, the dedication of our combined efforts has led to real, measurable results: dangerous drugs have been taken off our streets, violent criminals are behind bars, and criminal networks that threatened our neighborhoods have been dismantled.”
HSI Washington, D.C. Acting Special Agent in Charge Kai Wah Chan: “HSI is proud to stand with so many law enforcement partners united in one goal: making the Commonwealth of Virginia a safer place to live.”
U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood: “The US Postal Inspection Service sees firsthand through our investigations how devastating narcotics can be to our communities. Postal Inspectors remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the flow of these deadly drugs.”
About Project Safe Neighborhoods
This operation was part of the revamped Project Safe Neighborhoods, a combined law enforcement initiative that aims to provide a rapid response to violent crime, conduct strategic federal, state, local, and tribal partnerships, and increase accountability and deterrence to promote public safety.
United Resolve Lynchburg is the third PSN operation in the Western District of Virginia in recent months initiated by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Tracci in coordination with the United States Marshals Service and law enforcement partners from federal and state agencies, police departments, and sheriffs offices.
Participating Agencies
These operations were carried out by the United States Marshals Service, Lynchburg Police Department, Roanoke City Police Department, Danville Police Department, ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, United States Postal Inspection Service, Virginia State Police, Virginia Attorney General’s Office, Virginia National Guard Counterdrug Program, Virginia Department of Probation and Parole, Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Lynchburg City Sheriff’s Office, Amherst County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Bedford Police Department, Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Amherst County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, Appomattox County Sheriff’s Office, Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Campbell County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Salem Police Department, Star City Task Force, Roanoke County Police Department, Vinton Police Department and Commonwealth’s Attorney, Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority, and the Danville Department of Probation and Parole.
Link to official release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/united-resolve-lynchburg-nets-140-fugitives-illegal-firearms-fentanyl-and
