April
19, 2016
As part of a regional multi-agency narcotics operation yesterday, one arrest has been made and drugs and firearms were seized following the execution of two search warrants in Richmond.
Richmond
and Chesterfield police officers, who serve on the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration Drug Task Force, began this investigation more than three months
ago. It culminated Monday evening with the arrest of Elbrendel A. Edwards.
He was in possession of a firearm an half a kilogram of heroin at the time of
his arrest. Two additional firearms were also located and seized.
Law enforcement officials are confident Edwards will
be linked to several fatal heroin overdoses in the Richmond metropolitan area.
He is expected to appear in federal court this afternoon to be charged with a drug-related
offense.
The joint operation was conducted by the Richmond
Police Narcotics Division along with the Chesterfield County Police Narcotics
Unit and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Drug Task Force in Richmond,
which includes members of the FBI, Virginia State Police, Chesterfield County
Police, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Henrico Police and Richmond
Police.
A national trend of spiking heroin and prescription
drug overdoses has prompted Richmond Police and other regional agencies to
partner together to identify and eradicate heroin distributors from local
communities in order to protect citizens from this spreading hazard to public
safety.
To holistically address the overdose epidemic, law
enforcement throughout the Commonwealth will be conducting a National
Prescription Drug Take-Back Effort from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 30.
A local drop-off point will be located at the Southside Community Service
Center, 4100 Hull Street Road. To find a Drug Take-Back location near you,
visit, www.dea.gov. 