NYC Illegal Firework Taskforce Nets More Than 30 Arrests

New York City NY

22 June, 2021

1:30 PM

Description

NEW YORK CITY — A spate of recent arrests aims to prevent an encore of the illegal firework scourge that frazzled New Yorkers' nerves last summer. More than 30 people have been arrested in June so far by members of an illegal firework task force, said Sheriff Joseph Fucito, who helps lead the group that includes the NYPD. "Some of the highlights to this, on June 12, NYPD did an undercover operation where they were able to seize 600 fireworks from one garage that was a trafficking location," he said Tuesday. "Fire marshals on June 12 also seized a large load of fireworks, about $8,400 worth, and made three arrests. And then, over the last four days, the sheriff and FDNY have arrested over 10 people and seized approximately $15,000 worth of fireworks, all part of large trafficking operations." The illegal firework task force formed last year as complaints about pyrotechnics jumped 4,000 percent. Mayor Bill de Blasio rekindled the task force this summer to put a damper on a similar noisy season. Fucito said New Yorkers can follow the task force's work on Twitter at #NYCFireworksTaskForce. "Enjoy legal fireworks, that's really what we're trying to encourage," he said.