Numerous arrests tied to federal activities were made in Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas – Three operations targeting the flow of criminality between Little Rock and Pine Bluff resulted in a large number of federal drug and firearm arrests, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

One of those detained on suspicion of drug trafficking and weapon possession was the rapper Bankroll Freddie.

While he waits to be charged at the U.S. District Court, he is being held at the Pulaski County Detention Center.

Two of the operations, designed to combat violence and drug trafficking between Little Rock and Pine Bluff, were centered on competing gangs. According to indictments, Bankroll Freddie participated in one of the FBI’s gang investigations.

The Drug Enforcement Administration was in charge of the other operation.

The activities received assistance from more than a dozen federal, municipal, and state organizations, including Little Rock Police, North Little Rock Police, and Pine Bluff Police.

In a news conference on Wednesday morning, the U.S. Attorney’s Office disclosed a total of 45 arrests and 80 indictments, all of which were connected to various guns and drug trafficking-related counts.

“Last night was a restless night for hundreds of law enforcement officers that supported this operation,” said Jared Harper, a special agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Along with the arrests, investigators also recovered $30,000 in cash, 2 ounces of cocaine, 1 ounce of crack cocaine, and 4 guns, one of which was an AR-style pistol, during the operation.

“We’re all in the business of saving lives,” Harper said Wednesday. “That’s exactly what we did today.”

Authorities gave former Pine Bluff Police Department Detective Kevin Collins credit for his efforts. In 2020, one of these operations resulted in the shooting and death of Collins as he attempted to execute an arrest warrant.

“I guarantee you Detective Collins would have been out there with us this morning,” Harper said. “He would have probably been one of the first ones on the scene to help.”

During the press briefing on Wednesday, Collins’ parents sat in the front row to watch the operations their son is said to have played a crucial part in in action.

“Kevin wanted to be in law enforcement since 4 years old,” said his mother, Doretta Hobbs. “This has just kind of sealed that in my heart that he was doing the right thing

Representatives noted that Collins not only had a significant impact on the operations when he was alive, but also inspired them to work harder following his passing.

“I can assure you that the regret and grief over the loss of his life led to an even greater result by his colleagues,” said Jonathan Ross, who is the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

There were still 27 fugitives, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Over the coming days, agencies will work to take those into custody.