Washington, D.C. — The Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force is approaching the end of the year reporting more than 8,000 arrests and the seizure of nearly 800 illicit firearms, according to federal officials overseeing the operation.
The surge operation began in early August at the direction of President Donald Trump and is led by U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta. The task force includes more than 3,100 personnel drawn from 28 federal, state, and local agencies operating across all eight wards of the District of Columbia.
As of December 31, the task force had arrested more than 8,152 violent fugitives. Those arrests include 20 individuals charged with homicide, 1,343 for narcotics offenses, 633 for weapons violations, 29 for sex offenses, and 48 identified gang members. Authorities also reported the recovery of 16 missing children during the same period.
“President Trump established the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force to make this city the safest and most beautiful capital in the world, and we are on our way to achieving that goal in just over four months,” said Director Serralta. “Residents can see the difference this operation is making every day and take comfort in knowing law enforcement is working relentlessly on their behalf.”
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Deputy Director Rob Cekada said nearly 800 crime guns were seized from gang members, illegal aliens, and other violent offenders during the operation.
“Violent criminals have operated with a sense of impunity for far too long, but those days are over,” Cekada said. “Every American deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, and ATF remains relentless in pursuing those who threaten public safety.”
Notable Arrests
Among the most significant cases was the arrest of Ramanullah Lahanwal, an Afghan national living in Bellingham, Washington, who was charged with first-degree murder while armed following an ambush-style shooting on November 26 near the White House. One National Guardsman was killed and another critically wounded.
In a separate case, Jailen Lucas, Kelvin Thomas Jr., and Naquan Thomas were charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the June 30 killing of 21-year-old congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, who was struck by stray gunfire. The Metropolitan Police Department requested task force assistance to locate the suspects, who were apprehended in coordinated operations in Washington, D.C., and Montgomery Village, Maryland.
Other arrests included Alvin Young, charged with a 2022 homicide; Hieu Vu, charged with kidnapping and aggravated assault; Christopher Watts, wanted in Florida on child exploitation charges; and multiple suspects arrested December 8 following the execution of a search warrant in Southeast D.C., which led to the recovery of additional firearms. One suspect, Mekail Butler, was also wanted on a Maryland murder warrant.
Officials said the task force has also seized substantial quantities of narcotics and related contraband, reflecting what they described as a sustained and coordinated effort to reduce violent crime throughout the nation’s capital.
Federal authorities characterized the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force as the largest collaboration of law enforcement agencies and the National Guard ever assembled to proactively combat crime in a major U.S. city.
Anyone with information about wanted fugitives is encouraged to submit tips through the U.S. Marshals Service Tips App.
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