Maryland
39 people indicted in connection with Eastern Shore drug trafficking ring, Maryland police say
SALISBURY — Thirty-nine people were indicted after a five-month, multi-agency investigation into a drug trafficking ring on the Eastern Shore that distributed cocaine, fentanyl and other illegal drugs, according to Maryland State Police.
The Wicomico Narcotics team launched an investigation in the spring of 2024 that brought together two dozen local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to dismantle the ring that distributed drugs in Dorchester, Baltimore and Wicomico counties, officials said.
In August 2024, Wicomico Narcotics and the Drug Enforcement Administration served multiple search warrants in the three counties.
The warrants led to the discovery of over 2,500 grams of suspected cocaine and nearly 30 grams of fentanyl along with other narcotics, 14 firearms and four vehicles used to transport drugs, officials said.
Baltimore Drug Busts
In late November, four criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking in Southwest Baltimore were dismantled, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said.
“Operation Tornado Alley” led to 34 people between the ages of 16 and 60 being charged with a range of crimes, officials said.
During the six-month collaborative investigation, officials recovered large amounts of drugs, cash and nearly 70 guns. 15 stolen cars were also recovered and the effort put an end to a planned murder hit, according to officials.
Through “Operation Tornado Alley,” law enforcement officials identified multiple sources of fentanyl and cocaine, some of which were imported in large quantities.
Another drug trafficking organization – referred to as “LND” or Longwood-North-Dukeland – which operated in Northwest Baltimore was broken up in January 2024 through a collaborative investigation.
In November, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced that a seventh person had been sentenced in connection with the “LND” organization. A total of 10 people were charged with illegal possession of firearms, though two people still have outstanding warrants.
Police said Dequan Gravely, 23, of Charles County, was driving northbound on Route 210 near Pine Drive when his Mercedes collided with the school bus turning left from the southbound lanes.
The driver of a car involved in a crash with a Prince George’s County school bus in Accokeek, Maryland, on Friday has been identified.
Prince George’s County police said Dequan Gravely, 23, of Bryans Road in Charles County, was driving northbound on Route 210 near Pine Drive around 7:20 a.m. when his Mercedes collided with the school bus turning left from the southbound lanes.
Investigators said the crash happened in the intersection, causing the school bus to flip onto its side. Gravely died at the scene.
The school bus driver was transported to a hospital and treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Police said no students were on the bus at the time of the crash.
Investigators said they believe debris from the collision damaged a third vehicle. The driver of that vehicle “declined medical attention,” police said.
The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 301-731-4422.
WTOP’s Acacia James contributed to this report.
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A D.C. man won $5 million from a scratch-off lottery ticket in Maryland last week, and the matching number that netted him the prize happened to be his age.
Talk about a birthday surprise! A D.C. man won $5 million from a scratch-off lottery ticket in Maryland last week, and the matching number that netted him the prize happened to be his age.
Maurice Williams, a school bus driver in D.C., claimed the first top prize on a $5,000,000 LUXE scratch-off. He had used his $50 winnings from a previous LUXE scratch-off ticket to buy a new one the next day.
In a release from the Maryland Lottery, Williams said he didn’t know he had won until he scanned the ticket: “It’s crazy because the matching number was 59 and I just turned 59 the other day.”
Williams said he sat in shock for a while before calling his mother.
He said he plans to buy his mother a house with the winnings and then save up.
Two more top prizes from the scratch-off have yet to be claimed, the Maryland Lottery said, as well as nine $200,000 prizes, 10 $50,000 prizes and thousands of prizes ranging from $50 to $10,000.
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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
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