To combat violent crime during the 2023 South by Southwest festival, the Austin Police Department launched a Violent Crimes Initiative. This operation, a collaboration with state and federal law enforcement agencies, ran concurrently with SXSW from March 8th through March 18th.
During the festival’s two week run, APD seized a total of 61 firearms and made 131 arrests. During this initiative, officers were able to seize the following narcotics:
• 3.5 Kg of cocaine/crack cocaine
• 26.6 Kg of methamphetamine
• 41.38 g of fentanyl/heroin
• 98 lbs. of marijuana
