Little Rock, Arkansas – FBI Little Rock and partner law enforcement agencies arrested 53 people in Arkansas during Summer Heat 2.0, a nationwide initiative targeting violent crime. Federal officials announced the state’s results alongside broader national figures from the operation.
Between June 1 and September 20, authorities in Arkansas secured 33 indictments and 39 convictions. They also seized 16 illegally possessed firearms and recovered cocaine and fentanyl, according to the FBI. Investigators located 10 child victims in the state during the initiative.
The Arkansas figures cover several areas of enforcement, including criminal prosecutions, weapons seizures and efforts to locate children. Officials presented those results as part of the expanded 2026 operation.
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FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge Jason Van Goor said reducing violent crime and disrupting drug trafficking remain priorities. He also emphasized efforts to remove dangerous offenders and illegally possessed firearms from communities.
The operation focused on serving warrants on violent offenders and fugitives, dismantling gangs and transnational criminal organizations, and identifying and recovering child victims. FBI Little Rock worked with its law enforcement partners to carry out those efforts across Arkansas.
Nationally, participating agencies made 8,927 arrests and recovered 5,013 illegally possessed firearms. Authorities also seized more than 27,500 kilograms of cocaine and 687 kilograms of fentanyl during the initiative.
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Investigators across the country identified or located 1,410 child victims, the FBI reported. The nationwide totals reflect the wider operation, while the Arkansas announcement detailed the work carried out within the state.
The agency launched Summer Heat in 2025 before expanding it this year. According to the FBI, the 2026 effort recorded increases in several categories compared with the previous operation.
The number of illegally possessed weapons recovered rose by 120 percent, while the amount of fentanyl seized increased by 63 percent. The agency also reported a 34 percent increase in children identified or located.
Officials said the enforcement results came amid broader declines in crime reported nationwide. The figures announced for Arkansas highlight the state’s participation in the national initiative.
