13 arrested in federal drug bust at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – Local and federal agents, some in tactical gear, have made their way to Los Angeles for an active narcotic operation.

FOX 11’s crews were in MacArthur Park as law enforcement, including DEA, were at the scene on Thursday, June 4. Officials say 13 people were arrested in Thursday’s bust primarily targeting suspected fentanyl possession and/or alleged fentanyl dealers. Six others were cited in Thursday’s raid.

Several people were already in handcuffs as the active investigation was taking place. Authorities told FOX 11’s crew at the scene that law enforcement officers were there to arrest people possessing or taking the drugs.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman confirms law enforcement will be at MacArthur Park indefinitely.

“It’s very important to see and make sure that people know that the DEA’s office, along with the U.S. Attorney’s office and federal law enforcement and local law enforcement are here to stay,” Hochman said on Thursday. “This is not going to be a one-day operation. It’s not going to be a one-week operation. It’s going to continue over and over and over again.”

LA DA reacts to MacArthur Park drug bust

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the ongoing drug bust at MacArthur Park won’t be a “one-day operation” and that law enforcement will continue to target suspected drug dealers in the area.

Hochman said the ongoing operation won’t necessarily be just law enforcement at the scene.

“The idea is that law enforcement will be working with community groups. So we’ll deal with the criminal aspect of this, people who are committing a variety of crimes, whether it’s drug dealers and narcotics traffickers, gangs and whatnot,” the DA added.

Thursday’s narcotic operation comes just a month after federal officials said they arrested more than a dozen people found around $10 million worth of fentanyl. At the time of the May 2026 investigation, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California vowed to improve safety at MacArthur Park.

“Today, we begin reclaiming MacArthur Park from criminals and drug addicts to return this public space to the citizens of Los Angeles,” Essayli said on May 6. “Together with our federal and local law enforcement partners, we are executing multiple arrest and search warrants targeting those who are distributing drugs in and around the park.”

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