This week, law enforcement officials in North Philadelphia were successful in dismantling a narcotics trafficking network located in Philadelphia.
Additionally, they were able to seize 41 pounds of fentanyl and the animal tranquilizer xylazine, which had a combined value of almost $6.2 million.
As a result of law enforcement officers conducting search warrants at a residence and garage located on the 2800 block of North Franklin Street, seven individuals were taken into custody, as stated in a press release issued by the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, Dave Sunday.
These individuals were identified as having been discovered packing the drugs. According to the investigators, additionally some arrests were made during the course of vehicle stops.
According to the office of the attorney general, persons who were packing fentanyl attempted to destroy the evidence by throwing it into a sink.
This would cause the intoxicants to become airborne, which would expose the officers at the scene. The consumption of multiple cops resulted in their treatment, and they were subsequently discharged.
The search warrants were served by the office of the Attorney General in collaboration with the Philadelphia Police Department, Homeland Security, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies.
Francisco Quesada, age 40, Juan Fransella, age 36, Rony Molina-Rodriquez, age 29, Alexander Rodriquez Crouset, age 38, Victor Jose Herrera Castillo, age 33, Alexi Quesada Herrera, age 44, and Juan Ortiz, age 37, were all charged with participation in corrupt organizations, possession with the intent to deliver, and other offenses related to the drug bust.
When it comes to the distribution of fentanyl in the Pittsburgh area, investigators think that at least 200,000 doses were going to be delivered.
The officers also recovered $185,000 worth of what they believed to be narcotics earnings.
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“We simply cannot overstate the dangers of fentanyl or the great police work involved here which surely saved the lives of countless Pennsylvanians who these drug traffickers intended to profit from,” Sunday stated. “We seized hundreds of thousands of potentially deadly doses, which were headed to communities across the Commonwealth. I commend the officers who put themselves in harm’s way to stop this trafficking operation, and am thankful no one was seriously injured.”
In the instances, the Drug Strike Force Section of the Office of the Attorney General will be in charge of prosecution.
