Law enforcement officers, including the Los Angeles Police Department and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents, conducted an anti-drug operation at MacArthur Park on Thursday. This operation comes about a month after a similar effort in the area aimed at curbing narcotics trafficking.

Operation Details

While specific details about Thursday’s operation were not immediately available, it involved a significant presence of law enforcement vehicles, including LAPD SUVs and an armored vehicle. At least three individuals were taken into custody during the operation.

The recent operation follows a May initiative dubbed “Operation Free MacArthur Park,” which targeted 25 individuals suspected of drug trafficking. The May operation involved searches at multiple locations, including MacArthur Park, South LA, and Calabasas, and resulted in more than a dozen arrests. Among those arrested were two individuals believed to be major suppliers of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the park.

Community Impact

MacArthur Park, located in LA’s Westlake neighborhood, has been described by federal authorities as an open-air drug market. Community complaints about drug dealing and violent crime led to increased efforts by the City of Los Angeles and the LAPD in 2025, including extra patrols in the area. These efforts have reportedly reduced violent crime incidents.

Mayor Karen Bass has highlighted the effectiveness of the city’s homeless and mental health response teams in reducing encampments and open drug use in the area. The park, a historic cultural monument, continues to be a focal point for law enforcement efforts to maintain public safety.

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.