The Oglesby-based state police drug task force participated in a recent 36-state sweep that ended this week.

The operation, "Operation Byrne Drugs II," resulted in more than 4,900 arrests around the country between April 23 and Sunday.

The local drug task force conducted seven searches, made 12 arrests and found five children in endangered environments, said task force commander Juan DeLeon. Agents also seized a small amount of cocaine and heroin, two grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms and a little more than 100 grams of marijuana.

The task force further seized $349, one vehicle and several pieces of electronic equipment. In Mendota, officers uncovered what they said was an operation for producing fake identification cards.

Overall in Illinois, there were 472 arrests, with seizures of $2.7 million, firearms and numerous drugs. The only other state with a greater seizure of money was Wisconsin.

The operation was paid for with federal funds and is named after Edward Byrne, a rookie New York City narcotics officer killed by drug dealers in 1988.

The Oglesby-based drug task force is made up of officers from police departments in Ottawa, Streator, Mendota, La Salle, Peru, Spring Valley and Oglesby, as well as officers from the state police and sheriff's offices in La Salle and Bureau counties.