33 people arrested throughout Northeast Ohio as part of ‘Operation Smoke and Mirrors’

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Division of Police, the United States Marshals Service, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol arrested 33 people in the Northeast, Ohio area, Thursday as part of “Operation Smoke and Mirrors.”

The arrests came after an investigation that started in the fall of 2025 by the Cartel, Gang, Narcotics, and Laundering Task Force, Cleveland Police’s Second District Vice Unit, and the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative, which focused on the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood.

The operation netted 252 grams of cocaine, 250 grams of fentanyl, 250 grams of methamphetamine, 50 grams of MDMA(ecstasy), and multiple guns.

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office was able to indict 40 people as a result of the investigation.

“Operation Smoke & Mirrors underscores the power of collaboration and intelligence-driven policing in dismantling dangerous criminal networks across our region,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “I commend the dedicated members of the Cleveland Division of Police, along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, for their exceptional work in bringing these individuals to justice and protecting our residents from violent offenders who threaten the stability of our communities.”

“This operation reflects our Division’s ongoing commitment to working diligently and collaboratively to address serious threats to our community,” said Chief Dorothy Todd. “We are grateful for the coordinated efforts of the Cleveland Division of Police and our law enforcement partners in identifying and investigating criminal activity. Together, we remain dedicated to ensuring accountability and maintaining the safety of those we serve.”

The 33 people were arrested in several cities throughout Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, Bedford Heights, Euclid, Maple Heights, and Dayton.

The investigation remains ongoing, and more arrests are possible, according to a press release from the Cleveland Division of Police.

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