Some 72 people facing more than 150 criminal charges were taken into custody during a joint, six-day operation between the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals.

Dubbed “Operation Gateway,” Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said was a proactive crime suppression effort which fulfilled a promise he made to the citizens of Prichard.

“I promised the people in Prichard that we would show a force and help to reduce violent crime in that area,” Burch said in a release Wednesday. “Everyone deserves to live in a safe neighborhood without the presence of crime.

“I made a promise when I ran for office to take illegal guns and drugs off the streets. Our office will continue to do proactive crime suppression throughout Mobile County.”

Among the 156 charges were 90 felonies. Among the charges were 27 counts of marijuana possession; 10 counts of possession of a controlled substance; 11 counts of robbery, theft or burglary; five counts of domestic violence; four counts of drug trafficking; and five counts of assault.

Other charges included two counts of sex abuse of children/molestation; rape; obstruction of a government operation; evidence tampering; and failing to register as a sex offender.

The operation, which ran from July 31 through Aug. 5, also resulted in the seizure of 17 handguns and three rifles.