{"id":780840,"date":"2026-05-08T00:58:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T00:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/780840\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T00:58:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T00:58:17","slug":"macarthur-park-drug-raid-renews-debate-over-needle-exchange-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/780840\/","title":{"rendered":"MacArthur Park drug raid renews debate over needle exchange programs"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A sweeping federal and local drug raid in MacArthur Park and other Southern California<\/a> locations led to the arrests of 18 suspects Wednesday, and has spurred local business owners to ask for an end to city-run needle exchange programs.<\/p>\n

Anthony Chrysanthis, the DEA’s Special Agent in Charge for Los Angeles, said investigators executed multiple search warrants in MacArthur Park, San Gabriel, Calabasas and South Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Federal and local law enforcement announced a massive drug raid and arrested 18 people in multiple SoCal locations — mainly MacArthur Park.<\/p>\n

“We executed several search warrants around Southern California, and we were able to take off the streets 19 kilos of fentanyl, which is a massive amount of drugs that was set to come into MacArthur Park and poison this community,” he said.<\/p>\n

MacArthur Park has long been a hub for illegal drug activity – a reality that nearby businesses say has taken a toll. At Langer’s Deli, a nearly 80-year-old neighborhood institution, owner Norm Langer said the area has steadily deteriorated as drug dealing intensified in and around the park.<\/p>\n

Langer praised the coordinated law enforcement action but said the effort must continue.<\/p>\n

“All the involved agencies [Wednesday] have to continue in the park and around the area. We need a sustained effort,” he said. “I am absolutely thrilled with what happened yesterday — the DEA, the FBI, local law enforcement and all the powers that be.”<\/p>\n

He also criticized the city-run needle exchange program operating in the park, arguing it contributes to the problem.<\/p>\n

“My main message that I’m trying to get out there is that I want to see the needle program giveaway disbanded in the park,” Langer said.<\/p>\n

The future of the city’s syringe distribution program became a topic in Wednesday night’s mayoral debate, where candidates were asked whether the program should be shut down.<\/p>\n

Mayor Karen Bass and Spencer Pratt agreed the program should end, while Nithya Ramen answered “No.”<\/p>\n

Even if Bass were to end the city-run program, more than a dozen independent organizations continue to provide free, clean needles in and around Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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