FORT TOTTEN, N.D. (AP) – Federal, state and local authorities arrested 22 people on northeastern North Dakota’s Spirit Lake Indian Reservation for felony drug offenses and other serious crimes.

The 10-hour-long effort Wednesday, dubbed Operation No Sanctuary, was organized by a U.S. Marshals Service task force and authorities with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, WDAY-TV and WDAZ-TV reported. It targeted fugitives on the reservation and in the Devils Lake area that were wanted on federal, state, local and tribal warrants.

The Spirit Lake Tribal Council requested the operation to improve public safety on the reservation, where the council in August declared a “state of emergency” due to what they said was rampant drug use and trafficking.

Council Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Greene-Robertson said at the time that illegal drugs have become an “epidemic” on the reservation, and that the tribe will “do whatever it takes to address it.”

The tribe says it lacks justice system resources needed to fight the rise in illegal drug activity involving methamphetamine, heroin and prescription medications.

Wednesday’s operation involved officials with five federal agencies, three county sheriff’s departments, two state agencies and the Devils Lake Police Department.

In a separate operation, the U.S. Marshals Service and the tribe’s sex offender registry officer conducted compliance checks on 20 sex offenders on the reservation. Seven were found to be noncompliant with federal, state or tribal registration laws. Authorities are considering criminal charges.

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Information from: WDAY-AM, http://www.wday.com