‘Operation Blue Thunder’ Nets 68 Arrests, Echoes Smokey and the Bandit‑Style Drug Busts in Northern Indiana

Staff report

PERU, Ind. — In a four‑day crackdown that might’ve given the Bandit second thoughts about running contraband through Indiana, law enforcement officers arrested 68 individuals and filed 163 criminal charges — most drug‑related — during “Operation Blue Thunder” on U.S. 31 in Miami and Fulton Counties.

From June 16 through June 19, officers from the Indiana State Police Peru Post, along with the Fulton and Wabash County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Wabash and Rochester Police Departments, joined forces in a high‑visibility saturation patrol aimed at intercepting drug trafficking on one of northern Indiana’s busiest highways, according to a press release from the ISP. The coordinated effort used both marked and unmarked vehicles and K‑9 units trained to detect narcotics.

The ISP seized: cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana edibles, MDMA, ketamine, THC oil, prescription medications, syringes, drug paraphernalia—and two firearms. Officers also made two impaired driving arrests. Marijuana is legal in every surrounding state, but still criminalized in Indiana.

“Summer is a peak travel time, with an increased volume of motorists,” said Indiana State Police Sergeant Andrew Smith, who organized the operation. “This patrol should serve as a warning that officers will utilize all available resources to catch and arrest those who transport illegal drugs.”

In addition, the ISP is sending a clear message: drug traffickers are not welcome in the Hoosier State — and they certainly won’t be getting any Hoosier hospitality.

Dubbed “Operation Blue Thunder,” this year’s effort marks the 13th annual summer kickoff patrol targeting drug trafficking on Indiana’s highways. U.S. 31 was chosen due to its heavy traffic and frequent use by couriers moving illegal substances through the region.

Alongside the arrests — which included 29 felony charges — officers issued 102 traffic citations and 272 written warnings.

In echo of Smokey and the Bandit‑style highway pursuit — minus the beer-running and cross‑country chases — the message is: smugglers are unwelcome, and too many marijuana edibles can get a person put in jail.

Under Indiana law, possession of marijuana becomes a felony offense if a person has a prior drug conviction and is caught with 30 grams or more. Without a prior offense, possession of less than 30 grams is typically charged as a misdemeanor.

The post ‘Operation Blue Thunder’ Nets 68 Arrests, Echoes Smokey and the Bandit‑Style Drug Busts in Northern Indiana first appeared on The Bloomingtonian.