BELCOURT, N.D. (AP) – An operation targeting fugitives on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in northern North Dakota resulted in 18 arrests.

The U.S. Marshal’s Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted Operation Northern Lights Tuesday with help from other federal, state and local agencies.

A similar sweep on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation in December resulted in 22 arrests. Turtle Mountain Tribal Chairman Richard McCloud took note of the success and suggested an operation be done on his reservation.

Tribal lands often are viewed as a safe haven by people wanted on state or local warrants. State authorities can arrest only non-enrolled members on a reservation, and not all tribal governments have extradition laws in place to transfer an enrolled member to a state or local jurisdiction that holds an active warrant.