"The principals in the other organization were identified as Carlos Balestier-Marrero, Nelson Rivera and David Delacruz.". The ring that was taken down Wednesday is thought to be behind the blue packets of opioids that led to the overdose outbreak that overwhelmed local hospitals last fall, Adams said. Thieves memorizing passcodes to cellphones so they can try to steal money, What the Tech? Postal workers also came in close contact with the heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. This does not match the symptoms we would expect from xylazine (the horse tranquilizer), Santoro said. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. A total of 101 people were hospitalized in a matter of a few days in mid-September, with three dying. The investigation was led by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau's Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, with significant assistance from the Drug . Officials believe the blue bags that have been found contain heroin, fentanyl, lidocaine, xylazine and clonidine. During the raid, drugs with a street value over $500,000 were seized, along with three fully loaded firearms and a large amount of cash, Adams said. Your contribution makes community media possible. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. He was returned to Lancaster County on 3 July 2014 and was arraigned on the charges from the three departments (Manor, Manheim & East Hempfield Townships P.D.'s) his bail was set at $100,000. As a result of the raid, Tornielli says investigators found 906 grams of bulk Fentanyl (street value $290,980),$6,290 bags of Fentanyl packaged for sale (street value of $62,040), 1,989 Fentanyl pills (street value of $59,670) and 300,036 grams of bulk Cocaine (street value of $36,600). The investigation began in February, when state police began looking into the alleged drug trafficking activities of a Reading man, identified as Luis Irizarry. Clearly, a bad batch of drugs landed in our community, and we are taking steps to stamp out this problem.. The other organization, officials said, orchestrated deliveries of methamphetamine from other areas of the United States, including Los Angeles, with plans to deliver the drug to surrounding counties, including Lancaster, Lehigh, and Schuylkill. Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams and Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced Thursday that twenty-seven defendants were charged with operating a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Berks, Montgomery, and other surrounding counties. were among 23 people charged after the investigation of a Berks As of July 31, Berks has seen 69 overdose deaths in 2017. The Berks County district attorney's office provided photos related to a drug investigation dubbed "Operation Blue Crystal.". Breezy at times too.. Mostly cloudy with a shower possible late. Authorities said the organization's leader was Carlos Lopez Rosado, an inmate at a federal prison in Schuylkill County. Law enforcement quickly leapt into action, and by Sunday afternoon, Reading police and Berks County detectives executed a search warrant in the 200 block of North Eighth Street. / . More than $1 million worth of meth, fentanyl and heroin were seized. A total of twenty-three mid to high-level suspects were identified and charged with committing offenses involving violations of the PA Crimes . February 26, 2023 at 8:56 a.m. Berks County District Attorney John Adams announced the completion of Operation Ice Out on Wednesday. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Ghislaine Maxwell lawyer fighting for new trial or conviction reversal, Supreme Court hears New York vs. New Jersey dispute over port watchdog, Surgeon runs down Philadelphia street to retrieve organ from transport vehicle stuck in traffic, 'Silly seal alert!' While serving a search warrant at 419 S. 7th Street, Detectives found1,936 packets of heroin, with an estimated street value of up to $9,680, and6 bags of cocaine, with an estimated street value $120. Investigators said they confiscated 765 grams of cocaine, more than 450 grams of methamphetamine, more than 925 grams of marijuana, and 434 grams of heroin and fentanyl, plus paraphernalia and cash. . holds hearing for developer Atiyeh's proposed trucking terminal, Whitehall couple celebrates 75th wedding anniversary, Voting begins March 1 in What's So Cool About Manufacturing Contest, Pa. state senators announce bill that would crack down on distracted driving, Reading Mayor Eddie Moran announces reelection bid, Reading Planning Commission tables final plan for church campus, Police seeking suspect in Colebrookdale robbery, kidnapping, 69 News speaks with Pa. Lt. Gov. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Success! Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. LinkedIn . "Stop selling your poison in our communities, because it's not going to be tolerated," Steele said, "and with these arrests, I think we severed a pipeline in our region.". The female victims received payments from the customers which they would then turn over to either Rivera, Ellis or Thompson. ", "I call fentanyl the common denominator of death.". How Supreme Court ruling could affect how we use social media, RAW: FILE-JUSTIN BIEBER CANCELS JUSTICE WORLD TOUR DATES, Bruce Willis' wife getting help and support from dementia specialist, Bette Midler confesses to having 'some tailoring done' on her face, Prince and Princess of Wales pledge long-term support to therapy gardens, MCU star Jeremy Renner seen exercising two months after snowplough accident, Bette Midler unsure if Hocus Pocus 3 will happen. There was an error processing your request. "The total seizure in drugs is approximately $294,000 worth of drugs on the street," said RPD Capt. Success! Adams was joined by Dr. William Santoro, chief of the division of addiction medicine at Tower Health, and Council on Chemical Abuse Executive Director Stanley J. Papademetriou in the Berks County Services Center to drive home the importance of the crisis. . Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. According to Adams, detectives seized large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and synthetic marijuana, or K2. Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael O'Pake says the ring had been dealing drugs for years and more arrests could be coming. "Clearly, the ones that have the high bails were the leaders of this corrupt organization.". A donation of any size to your nonprofit media organization supports the future of media access in our community - the things you love, and the places you care about, by the people you know. The defendants were charged with committing offenses involving violations of the PA Crimes Code and the PA Controlled Substance Act, delivery of controlled substances which included bulk amounts of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, corrupt organization, and criminal use of communication facility. Two-thirds of the patients that have presented with overdose symptoms had to be hospitalized, he added. During the search warrant, Jayson Cuadrado, 38, and Dimitri Ortega, 28, were taken into custody and charged with felony drug and related charges. The group smuggled bulk quantities of cocaine through the mail from Puerto Rico to Berks County, officials said. Detectives are still looking for two others, Luis Sanabria, aka "Streetz," and Charles Matthew, aka "Black.". The six-month probe, dubbed "Operation Last Hurrah," culminated Wednesday morning with approximately 125 state and local law enforcement officers fanning out across the city and surrounding suburbs, armed with dozens of arrest and search warrants. On November 3rd and 4th, 2022, search warrants were obtained and served at the following locations: As a result of this investigation, the following summary of items of evidence were recovered and seized: The arrested individuals were transported to the Sheriffs Central Processing Unit and are awaiting arraignment. PHOTOS: Drug bust in Berks, Lancaster, Schuylkill counties, Girl, 8, hailed a hero for actions during medical emergency, caring for baby brother, 4 retail shops opening soon in downtown Allentown, Community members address 'After School Satan Club' at Saucon Valley school board meeting, DA: Man threatened Saucon Valley School District because he was angry over After School Satan Club, 2020 overdose deaths highest-ever recorded in Berks, Reading Mayor Eddie Moran announces reelection bid, Reading Planning Commission tables final plan for church campus, Pa. state senators announce bill that would crack down on distracted driving, Police seeking suspect in Colebrookdale robbery, kidnapping, 69 News speaks with Pa. Lt. Gov. Breezy at times too.. Mostly cloudy with a shower possible late. Narcan does not reverse the effect of whatever this toxin is, Santoro said. Operations such as this investigation are inherently dangerous, as is all the work our women and men who wear the uniform do on a daily basis, yet they face that danger head-on to make our community a better place.. Adams said the arrests made this week do not represent the end of the investigation. BCTV is a community driven content platform. om . The arrest warrants were issued by Magisterial District Judge Priscilla Campos. holds hearing for developer Atiyeh's proposed trucking terminal, Whitehall couple celebrates 75th wedding anniversary, Voting begins March 1 in What's So Cool About Manufacturing Contest. He also said the bust involved product worth a lot of money: 27.5 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $2.7 million and 5.5 kilograms of fentanyl that could sell for up to $1.6 million. Papademetriou said his organization provides Narcan with no questions asked and urged people to arm themselves with it. Chadwick Allen Creger , 46, of Rural Hall, possession with intent to manufacture sell and deliver methamphetamine 3 counts, sell methamphetamine 3 counts, deliver methamphetamine 3 counts, conspiracy to sell and deliver methamphetamine 2 counts, and possession of drug paraphernalia 3 counts. Additionally, because of the scope of the investigation, detectives from Berks, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery Counties teamed up with the City of Reading Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Service Inspectors, United States Homeland Security Investigations and the Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA. The organization utilized numerous sites within their territory as stash houses, points of sales and means to launder proceeds. The Berks County Arrest Records Search (Pennsylvania) links below open in a new window and take you to third party websites that provide access to Berks County public records. Peterson first condemned Hamlin on Sunday . Over the course of the investigation, dubbed Operation Caribbean Snowfall, two undercover officers infiltrated this organization and purchased bulk quantities of cocaine and fentanyl. There was an error processing your request. The district attorney said that the intelligence gathered during the investigation showed that the street level dealers who were arrested in September got the drugs they sold from the targets of Wednesdays raids. "This is an example of the violence of this organization, and I'm hopeful that our streets will be much safer with these individuals now incarcerated," Adams said," Adams said. Error! You have permission to edit this article. NEWS. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. You have permission to edit this article. FINANCE. "I am certain that the penalties he's going to face, if and when convicted, will be extremely severe," Adams said, "so he will be incarcerated for a long, long, long time.". All Rights Reserved. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. SEARCH. Several suspects were arrested and drugs were seized. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the suspects still at large can contact Crime Alert Berks County via anonymous text to 847411, starting the message with keyword alertberks, or by calling 877-373-9913. That is why charges like involuntary manslaughter or assault are not being levied. "It's a very significant drug bust, being the amount of narcotics that were seized, including the amount of heroin and fentanyl, especially since we're seeing an uptick in overdoses," Pentheny said. "Human trafficking is prevalent in our own communities within the commonwealth," said Major Jeremy Richard, director of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation. 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