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Furloughed FBI Agents Make Drug Busts Without Pay

Pamela EngelOct 16, 2013, 03:24 IST

Screenshot/ABC 7

Furloughed FBI agents made a series of drug busts near San Francisco, raiding six locations including a home on the same block as a middle school and a daycare center, according to ABC 7.

Agents wanted to break up a dangerous drug cartel, and they decided they couldn't wait until the government shutdown ended to raid the six locations. The news report didn't elaborate on what the five other locations were.

"We needed to stop this individual and organized crime ring here in the East Bay immediately. And that's why we chose to do it today," FBI spokesperson Peter Lee told ABC.

Agents found cocaine in the house near the middle school. The FBI arrested several people during the drug busts.

About 80% of the FBI's 35,000 employees are still working, according to the New York Daily News. The agency is prepared to handle any immediate threats but has had to put longer-term investigations on hold.