A high‑visibility roundup of criminal suspects, and a much quieter but consequential counterterrorism operation.

That disrupted an alleged extremist plot on New Year’s Eve in California and Louisiana. Taken together, these operations illustrate the complex and often unseen work that goes into preserving public safety — and how easily the balance between security and crisis can be upset.

Operation Safe Christmas: A Coordinated Sweep Through Illinois

In mid‑December 2025, federal, state, and local law enforcement announced the results of a weeklong operation aimed at disrupting criminal activity in Illinois and reassuring communities ahead of the holiday season.

What the Operation Did

Dubbed Operation Safe Christmas, the effort brought together the U.S. Marshals Service for the Southern District of Illinois, the FBI Springfield field office, Illinois State Police, ATF Chicago, and DEA St. Louis under a coordinated fugitive apprehension and criminal enforcement strategy. Over the course of seven days, officials:

Arrested 63 suspects on various charges ranging from drug offenses to violent crime.

Seized approximately 2.5 pounds of suspected narcotics — including dangerous opioids and other controlled substances.

Confiscated around $15,000 in suspected illicit cash presumed to be proceeds of criminal activity.

Made arrests across multiple counties, including Bond, Effingham, Fayette, Madison and St. Clair in Illinois, and even into Atlanta, Georgia, reflecting the collaborative nature of the operation.

U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft described the operation as the result of weeks of careful planning and cooperation among federal and local partners, emphasizing that the arrests removed individuals alleged to be violent offenders and drug traffickers from the streets.