Police Operation Leads To 16 Arrests In Bennington

BENNINGTON, Vt. — State police have arrested 16 suspected drug dealers in part of a sweep across Bennington County.

Police say Operation Strike Two was launched Wednesday after a six-month-long investigation identifying 23 suspects. Sixteen had been arrested as of 2 p.m. on Wednesday; seven others had not been located.

Police partnered with local and county law enforcement agencies to sweep the county looking for the suspects.

"Our partnerships with municipal, state, and county law enforcement agencies, allow us to take productive steps deter the epidemic abuse of illicit drugs, that is driving crime and destroying the lives of our families and friends," said Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette in a prepared statement.

Investigators will be pursuing arrest warrants for those who have not been arrested but state police believe a number of them will turn themselves in.

Those arrested were transported to either the state police barracks in Shaftsbury or the Bennington Police Department for processing. Those arrested will be taken directly to Vermont District Court for arraignment, according to police. Each person arrested could face between five to 20 years in prison.

"I feel very strongly about the opiate epidemic that is impacting Vermont," said Manchester Police Chief Michael Hall, in a statement. "The success of this operation is a another step forward for Bennington County in its fight with drugs and crime."

No one was injured during the operation.

Below is a list of those targeted in the sweep. The ones in red have not been apprehended.

Vermont State Police Operation Strike Two Suspect List.