Federal authorities arrested 18 people in Los Angeles as part of an operation targeting drug trafficking in and around MacArthur Park, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

The operation, called "Operation Free MacArthur Park," focused on what authorities described as an open-air drug market in the park near downtown Los Angeles. The area has been known for ongoing issues with drug activity, particularly involving fentanyl.

During the raids, federal agents targeted multiple locations including properties in South Los Angeles and Calabasas. Authorities seized approximately 65 pounds of fentanyl during the operation, according to reports.

MacArthur Park has long been associated with drug-related problems, including fentanyl use and overdoses. The area has also experienced issues with homelessness, with encampments of unhoused individuals sometimes present in the vicinity.

The Justice Department characterized the operation as part of broader federal efforts to combat drug trafficking networks. The arrests represent one of the larger recent enforcement actions in the Los Angeles area targeting street-level drug distribution.