Officials: 2,497 fugitives caught in Fla.

MIAMI, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A major law enforcement operation led by the U.S. marshals has resulted in the capture of 2,497 fugitives in Florida, officials said Thursday.

Deputy Attorney General Mark R. Filip and U.S. Marshals Service Director John Clark said in a U.S. Department of Justice news release Operation Orange Crush had targeted some of the worst offenders still at large in the state.

"All of our efforts in this area serve as a continued warning to fugitives from justice that wherever they are hiding, we will work together to find them," Filip said.

Among the nearly 2,500 fugitives arrested Thursday were 55 gang members and 255 sex offenders, officials said.

U.S. Marshal Christina Pharo said the 10-week-long operation worked thanks to the involvement of a number of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.