West Palm Beach Police Announce Operation Silent Spruce

Published on April 16, 2026

West Palm Beach Police Announce Operation Silent Spruce, Focusing on Street-Level Offenders

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (April 16, 2026) – The West Palm Beach Police Department today announced the results of a targeted enforcement operation focused on street-level criminal activity.

The department’s Street Team conducted Operation Silent Spruce with support from Patrol, Organized Crime, K-9, Community Engagement, and SWAT within Pleasant City as part of an ongoing investigation that began in early 2026. The investigation was initiated following multiple community tips that led detectives to identify several nuisance properties, with a focus on locations associated with repeat offenses.

On Monday, April 13, 2026, officers executed four simultaneous search warrants as part of a coordinated effort.

Nine individuals were taken into custody and are facing a total of 19 felony charges and one misdemeanor. The felony charges include eight counts of sale of narcotics, one count of possession of fentanyl, three counts of sale of narcotics within 1,000 feet of a specified location, one count of possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and six public order offenses. One individual is also charged with a misdemeanor count of failure to appear.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of five handguns, one rifle, several hundred dollars in cash, drug paraphernalia and narcotics, including 1.5 pounds of marijuana, 6 grams of crack cocaine, and 2 grams of bath salts.

“This investigation is a direct result of community members speaking up, trusting and sharing information with our officers,” said West Palm Beach Chief of Police Tony Araujo. “These partnerships are critical to our success. We will continue working proactively to keep our neighborhoods safe. We encourage anyone with information to come forward; if you see something, say something.”

This operation is ongoing, with the introduction of properties involved in criminal drug activity now coming under the review of the city’s nuisance abatement ordinance.

Operation Silent Spruce represents just one of several ongoing efforts by the West Palm Beach Police Department to proactively address crime and enhance public safety throughout the community.

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Rachel Leitão

Public Information Officer

pdpio@wpb.org