Law enforcement officials arrested nearly 700 violent criminals, gang members and sex offenders from the D.C. area last week as part of a nationally coordinated roundup, according to the Department of Justice.

The crackdown, dubbed Operation Falcon III, was conducted in 24 states east of the Mississippi and the District of Columbia and overall netted 10,733 fugitives, including 1,659 sex offenders, the largest number ever captured in a single law enforcement effort, said U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.