Federal and Local Authorities Raid MacArthur Park to Disrupt Open-Air Drug Activity

Thu, 07 May 2026 02:29:00 +0200

Federal and local law enforcement agencies conducted a coordinated operation at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles targeting what authorities described as an 'open-air drug market.' The sweep involved dozens of armed DEA agents and LAPD officers raiding multiple storefronts near the Alvarado Avenue corridor. Officers secured the northeast corner of the park and directed people in the area to comply with law enforcement instructions. The operation included a visible presence of tactical vehicles and a police helicopter. Several onlookers, including attendees of a food giveaway by the Dream Center Foundation, witnessed the event. This raid is part of a larger effort to reduce gang and drug activity in MacArthur Park. Earlier in March, federal authorities arrested members and associates of the 18th Street gang, who allegedly controlled the park’s drug trade. The DEA emphasized that the goal of these operations is to reclaim the park for the local community and curb the exploitation of public s