39 charged in Hampton Roads-centered ‘Operation Cookout’ targeting heroin, fentanyl trafficking

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — 30 men and nine women have been indicted following a major drug operation focusing on heroin and fentanyl trafficking in Hampton Roads.

“Operation Cookout” involved more than 30 law enforcement agencies and included more than 100 indictments, according to U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger.

35 of the 39 suspects have been arrested so far.

Authorities seized more than 30 kilograms of fentanyl, 30 kilograms of heroin, five kilograms of cocaine, 42 firearms and more than $700,000.

To illustrate the scale of damage that could be caused by that amount of the heavily potent fentanyl, which has been linked to significant increases in overdose deaths for heroin users, Terwilliger said it could kill up to 14 million people.

Those arrested included suppliers, packagers, distributors and dealers, Terwilliger added.

“You heard about some of the seizures and the things that were taken. Those who suffer from addiction, those who prey on neighborhoods, take advantage of others, and important for me is the type of violence that so often surrounds these type of incidents, I want to thank the task force officers from our agencies, all of us,” said Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew, whose force was involved in the operation.

“All of you all that played a role in this.I could not be more appreciative of the cooperation. If you are looking at a blueprint on how this should be done, this is it.”

See a gallery of booking photos below. 10 On Your Side is working to get more mugshots of the suspects arrested in the operation.