BLOOMINGTON - A weeklong operation led by the U.S. Marshals Service with help from Bloomington police and the McLean County sheriff's office ended with the arrest of 20 fugitives in McLean County, authorities said Thursday in a statement.

Bloomington was among several Central Illinois communities, including Peoria, that participated in Operation Falcon (Federal And Local Cops Organized Nationally), a national effort that ran from June 23 to 27.

The goal of the operation was to clear backlogged warrants from law enforcement files and "remove as many fugitives as possible from communities," according to the statement.

In addition to the 20 fugitives taken into custody in Bloomington and other McLean County communities, three people wanted on McLean County warrants were found in the Chicago area, police said.

Eighteen others were arrested in various communities in Peoria County, and another 18 targeted in the operation already were in custody in other jurisdictions, police said.

The fugitives were wanted on a variety of charges, including armed robbery, burglary, home invasion, escape, and various sex, drug and weapons offenses, police said.

Local agencies participating in Operation Falcon were Bloomington police; McLean, Peoria and DeWitt county sheriff's offices; and Illinois State Police, police said. The Bloomington Police Department has two detectives assigned full-time to the U.S. Marshals Service.