Fact Check: "Operation involved over 30 law enforcement agencies collaborating."
What We Know
The claim that "Operation involved over 30 law enforcement agencies collaborating" relates to Operation Atlas, a year-long initiative aimed at locating and arresting violent transnational fugitives. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice, this operation resulted in the arrest of 223 fugitives and the positive location of 581 fugitives across 70 countries, with significant involvement from the U.S. Marshals Service and INTERPOL (source-1). The operation was characterized by quarterly meetings that facilitated collaboration among law enforcement partners from over 20 countries, enhancing information sharing and coordination (source-1).
While the operation involved collaboration with law enforcement from more than 20 countries, it does not explicitly state that the number of agencies involved exceeded 30. The term "agencies" can refer to various law enforcement bodies within those countries, but the specific number of distinct agencies involved in the operation is not detailed in the available sources.
Analysis
The claim is partially true. The operation indeed involved a significant number of law enforcement agencies, but the specific figure of "over 30" is not directly supported by the information provided. The report mentions collaboration with law enforcement partners from more than 20 countries, which could imply a larger number of agencies when considering the various local, state, and federal entities within those countries (source-1). However, without explicit documentation of the number of agencies, the claim cannot be fully verified.
The reliability of the source is high, as it comes from the U.S. Department of Justice, which is a credible government entity. The information presented is consistent with the nature of international law enforcement operations, which often involve multiple agencies across different jurisdictions. However, the lack of specific numbers regarding the agencies involved means that the claim lacks complete substantiation.
Conclusion
The verdict is Partially True. While Operation Atlas did involve extensive collaboration among law enforcement agencies from various countries, the claim that it specifically involved "over 30" distinct agencies is not conclusively supported by the available evidence. The operation's structure and the nature of international law enforcement collaborations suggest a significant number of participants, but precise figures are not provided.
Sources
- Global Law Enforcement Collaboration through Operation Atlas Yields 223 Violent Transnational Fugitives Arrested and 581 Fugitives Located in 70 Countries. U.S. Department of Justice
- The Office for State and Local Law Enforcement Strategic Plan. DHS
- Forty-Seven Defendants Charged in Imperial Valley Takedown of Drug Trafficking Network Linked to Sinaloa Cartel. U.S. Department of Justice
- Justice Information Sharing Initiatives. BJA
- Multi-Agency Collaboration Leads To 69 Searches And Over 25 Arrests In Effort To Fight. U.S. Department of Justice
- Collaborative Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance Center. COPS
- Delegation of Immigration Authority Section 287(g). ICE
- Federal-Local Law Enforcement Collaboration in Investigating and Prosecutions. OJP
