Two Arrested as Niagara Falls Police Target Drug Hotspots in Anti-gun Violence Operation

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Two individuals were taken into custody last week as part of a focused law enforcement sweep targeting violent crime and illegal drug activity in Niagara Falls. The operation was conducted under New York State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, which aims to reduce gun-related incidents through intelligence-driven policing and targeted community interventions.

With support from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and County Probation Officers, Niagara Falls Police executed simultaneous raids at two suspected drug locations: one on the 500 block of 20th Street and another on the 1000 block of 19th Street. While the main suspects were not found at either site, officers recovered various forms of evidence.

At the 545 20th Street address, authorities confiscated quantities of suspected cocaine and fentanyl, ammunition, and drug-related paraphernalia. Detectives noted that the residence had long drawn complaints from neighbors who reported frequent gatherings and alleged illegal gambling and drug transactions.

Though the individual originally targeted by law enforcement wasn’t present, 47-year-old Claude Wilson was arrested on an unrelated outstanding warrant issued by Niagara Falls City Court.

Police then spotted 30-year-old Dominique Hilson observing law enforcement activity from across the street. She was also taken into custody after officers confirmed she was wanted in Erie County.

The second raid was conducted at 1015 19th Street which had previously condemned by the city. Here, officers seized additional ammunition and drug paraphernalia. This property, as the previous one, had been the subject of multiple neighborhood complaints tied to suspected narcotics distribution.

Both addresses had been marked as “priority locations” using data provided by the Niagara Intelligence & Crime Analysis Center (NICAC), a key component in the GIVE initiative’s strategy of targeting crime hotspots through real-time data.

The operation comes amid continued state investment in the GIVE program with Niagara Falls receiving $1,228,947 for the 2024-25 fiscal year. In addition to direct law enforcement support, the grant finances a Falls Criminal Investigation Division detective dedicated solely to non-fatal shooting cases and supports community outreach programs aimed at long-term violence prevention.

Two Arrested as Niagara Falls Police Target Drug Hotspots in Anti-gun Violence Operation