Arrests soar by 163% in South End as drug crisis spills from Mass and Cass

Tuesday, October 21, 2025•
4 min read
MDN Staff
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Arrests soar by 163% in South End as drug crisis spills from Mass and Cass

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SOUTH END— Arrests skyrocketed by a staggering 163% this summer in the South End as Boston struggles to contain the catastrophic spillover from the notorious Mass and Cass drug market.

According to police data first obtained by the Boston Herald and revealed at an August 27 Community CompStat meeting, officers made a jaw-dropping 478 arrests between May 1 and August 24 this year, up from just 182 during the same period in 2024. This dramatic surge amounts to a chilling increase of 296 arrests, showcasing the relentless grip of crime in the community.

Despite these aggressive enforcement efforts, local residents are sounding the alarm about the inadequacy of police resources to tackle the swelling tide of drug-related activity and violence. Reports indicate that police fielded a staggering 2,804 quality-of-life calls during this span, with the majority concerning public intoxication, disturbing the peace, and rampant noise disturbances.

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The statistics paint a grim picture: 81 violent crimes and 255 property crimes were recorded, including four rapes or attempted rapes and 55 aggravated assaults. Alarmingly, residential burglaries surged in July with 11 incidents, illustrating the desperation fueled by drug addiction in the area. "Goods get traded for drugs on the sidewalks around the greater Mass and Cass area," one resident, Brian McCarter, told the Boston Herald.

Adding to the turmoil, businesses in the South End are being crushed by rampant shoplifting, a direct byproduct of the drug crisis. Randi Lathrop, a community leader and business owner, described harrowing encounters where thieves wielded lethal needles, threatening both employees and customers. The repercussions have been severe, with a CVS in the area forced to close due to escalating threats.

Critics say Mayor Michelle Wu has failed on her Mass and Cass efforts and point to examples of addicts left to rot in Boston’s South End
Critics say Mayor Michelle Wu has failed on her Mass and Cass efforts and point to examples of addicts left to rot in Boston’s South End

In a move to address the spiraling chaos, the Wu administration recently announced plans to flood the Mass and Cass area with many of the 100 new police officers who graduated from the academy. This initiative aims to crack down on the rampant crime and drug use that has spread unchecked into surrounding neighborhoods. ā€œOur plan combines continuous enforcement with direct pathways to divert individuals into treatment,ā€ the administration stated.

As the drug crisis festers and crime escalates, the South End finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the consequences of unchecked addiction and the desperate measures being taken to restore order. The fight against the tide of disorder is just beginning, and residents are left wondering if this new police presence will stem the rising tide of chaos.

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Arrests soar by 163% in South End as drug crisis spills from Mass and Cass - Mass Daily News