SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — More than 260 people are facing drug charges as part of a large-scale operation targeting crime in the Sioux Falls area, according to new data released by the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
Operation: Prairie Thunder, which Governor Larry Rhoden announced in July, is a coordinated effort involving multiple state and federal agencies. The operation increases saturation patrols, deploys aerial assets such as South Dakota National Guard Lakota helicopters and a Highway Patrol airplane for drug interdiction and traffic enforcement, and utilizes Department of Corrections parole agents and the Absconder Apprehension Unit to help locate fugitives and gather intelligence.
The operation also supports U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts by enabling the South Dakota Highway Patrol to assist with enforcement actions, activating six National Guard soldiers to help ICE, and allowing the Department of Corrections to coordinate with the agency.
According to the latest figures from the Department of Public Safety, between Aug. 27 and Oct. 3, 164 people are in custody on drug-related charges, and 263 people face drug charges in total. Officials also report that eight people with suspected ties to cartels or gangs were apprehended, and 21 people were taken into custody through ICE contacts.
Emily’s Hope previously reported that a record methamphetamine seizure in the state was linked to Operation: Prairie Thunder.
However, earlier reports have raised questions about how arrest totals are being calculated. Governor Rhoden has acknowledged that the previous language used in updates about the operation can be confusing.
