East St. Louis, IL – A three-day violent crime suppression operation led by Illinois State Police resulted in dozens of arrests and multiple firearms seized across the Metro East region.
According to Illinois State Police Investigations, the operation took place from September 22–24, 2025, and focused on high-crime areas in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, and Madison County. Investigators said the detail aimed to disrupt violent offenders, firearm-related crimes, and structured criminal groups impacting local neighborhoods.
In total, 37 people were arrested during the operation. Police reported 37 felony charges and 61 criminal charges overall. Of those, 17 were firearm-related offenses. Troopers also seized 13 firearms, removing what officials described as “dangerous weapons” from the streets of Metro East communities.
The suppression detail, police said, relied on intelligence and technology to locate individuals allegedly connected to violent activity. Target areas were selected based on recent crime data and ongoing investigations.
State police emphasized that operations like this are part of a broader effort to reduce violent crime in Metro East. Local law enforcement agencies were also involved in the coordinated sweep.
Authorities said additional enforcement details are expected in the coming months as part of an ongoing strategy to improve safety in the region.
