The drug sales Included: cocaine, heroin, marijuana and prescription medications. "This is a major organization that was trafficking hundreds of kilograms of cocaine across the entire country and has direct ties to the Sinaloan Cartel in Mexico," Brady said. Following a tip, police stopped a vehicle on Route 22 on April 8, and during a search of the vehicle, they found 50 bricks of heroin and fentanyl. At one Philadelphia lab alone, 800 pounds of speed with a street value of $18 million were manufactured, Fountain said. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Police arrested. The operation to bust the ring included the FBI, ATF, Pittsburgh Police, Latrobe Police, Allegheny County Sheriffs Office, Munhall Police, Wilkinsburg Police, Monroeville Police and Penn Hills Police among other agencies. VA Pittsburgh nurse accused of illegally obtaining opioid painkillers, Because of pandemic, Pittsburgh Fashion Week has virtual look this year, Pitt reports 37 new coronavirus cases over the weekend, 68 in a week, Social media followers, police, lead to discovery of stolen PGH Halal Truck, Mine cleanups in Cook, Fawn townships among those targeted by state program, Long-lost ship found in Lake Huron, confirming tragic story, GZA, Donnie Iris, John Mayer among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in March, How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people. The investigation was a five month wiretap investigation, according to law enforcement. Another lab was in Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County. She described the indictments as the largest methamphetamine bust in state history. uss canberra crew list. South Park Fire + Police Protection Measures + St. Patrick's Day, 3 Dead, Another Injured In 2 Pittsburgh-Area Shootings, Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Battles, Local Brand Advisor offers services in Pittsburgh. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Drug and alcohol addiction is a nationwide epidemic, please reach out if you or a loved one is suffering. It stretched from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles and included connections to Mexican cartels. Robert P. Casey, who attended the news conference. Those considered mid-level dealers in Fayette County deal up to $10,000 in drugs. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "By taking down an entire multistate organization at once, the impact on our region is felt immediately," Brady said. Their estimated value is $450,000, state police said. "I asked for an arrest sweep to show the citizenry that law enforcement is active and involved with drug enforcement," said Vernon, adding the year-long investigation involved undercover work, undercover purchases, officers entering in dangerous places and conducting highly dangerous searches. All the people indicted are from Philadelphia or New Jersey except one man from Florida. The HIDTA designation of our largest counties enhances our ability to identify and . Philadelphia police called in the state police for help and, after multiple street-level arrests, the investigation was expanded into New Jersey. Facebook. Officials pegged Clark as a head of the trafficking organization and accused Suggs Jr. of being a co-conspirator. Federal investigators continue to search for Todd Moses, 33, of Decatur, Ga. Moses, formerly of Donora, is one of 39 individuals indicted in a cocaine-trafficking ring Tuesday, April 24, 2018. "The Indiana County Drug Task Force was able to take one tip from a community member and turn it into a very sizable drug bust in a matter of days," said District Attorney Bob Manzi. "I think that's a record," said Vernon. All Rights Reserved. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady on Wednesday said a federal grand jury has indicted 39 people accused of being involved in a cross-country cocaine ring that stretched from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than ten years to a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, or both, as to each charged Defendant. This month the DEA made the biggest meth bust in American history: 2200 pounds of meth, nearly 900 pounds of cocaine, and 13 pounds of heroin. One of the labs, in Philadelphia, is considered the largest methamphetamine lab ever seized on the East Coast and one of the largest, if not the largest, in the country, state police said. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Officers stopped the RV last November where they found Pedro Blanco, Brian Powell and Troy Rowe trafficking more than 50 kilograms of cocaine from Los Angeles to Jamie Lightfoot's Verona home, according to the indictment. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady says the drug pipeline started with Mexican cartels, which sent large quantities of cocaine into the U.S. through California and Arizona. "Although fighting the opioid epidemic remains this office's top priority, this case is clear evidence of a disturbing trend: Cocaine is making a comeback in this region," Brady said. Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. Attorney General James Busts Two Major Drug Trafficking Rings in Central New York 78 Individuals Indicted for Trafficking Cocaine, Heroin, and Fentanyl Throughout NYS; Illegal Possession of Firearms, Including Untraceable Ghost Guns AG James Has Taken More Than 1,400 Guns Off NYS's Streets Since 2019 He said there are turf wars, shootings, home invasions and homicides that go hand in hand with drug trafficking. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS One of the largest drug busts in the history of Pennsylvania was announced by Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Those arrested were transported to the Fayette County Prison by the Fayette County Sheriff's office. "This case is another example of how essential law enforcement collaboration is in combatting drug trafficking. 2023 Banyan Treatment Centers. While the state has many notable things that make it special, it is not exempt from the drug trade. Reach her at 412-380-8519, mguza@tribweb.com or via Twitter @meganguzaTrib. Evidence seized during a two-year investigation into a cross-country cocaine trafficking ring that led to the indictment of 39 individuals Tuesday, April 24, 2018. With help from the FBI and local police, investigators from the District Attorneys Office on Monday arrested two highly sought-after Philadelphia men accused of having deep ties to major drug trafficking operations originating in South America, Zappala said. A few were considered "upper level" drug dealers for Fayette County. Police in Laos have made the biggest single drug seizure ever recorded in Asia, according to the United Nations. williams legato iii headphone jack size 1; pergo heritage hickory 1; We will work with our law enforcement partners to seize drug traffickers narcotics and money, and seek to put them in prison. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. It. ", "Today the DEA District Office in Pittsburgh, the United States Postal Services Office of Inspector General, and our other law enforcement counterparts dismantled an international cocaine drug trafficking organization that operated in Los Angeles, Tucson, and Mexico," said Jonathan A. Wilson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. The task force is made up of 35 municipal police officers from all parts of the county. A locked padlock Fifteen properties are subject to seizure under laws which require drug traffickers to forfeit property. The Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force made a record-setting drug seizure over the weekend when investigators discovered $14 million to $23 million worth of fentanyl in a Lynnwood home. PITTSBURGH, PA - Two Philadelphia men have been arrested in a massive drug bust in which $10 million in cocaine was seized. Operation Tripwire started 2 years ago after the postal service found cocaine hidden in a package. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. "(He) was communicating with his sons and the organization and was able to, if not control, coordinate and discuss with members of the organization," Brady said. There were 16.5 tons of the drug found in . Zappala said the last time he recalls a similar situation was a bust in Penn Hills, where drugs were hidden within a false bottom in a vehicle. He is associated with the street gang, but police said he was indicted separately. The 50 pounds of cocaine worth $10 million seized in North Braddock this week marked the regions biggest drug bust in recent memory, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala said Tuesday. Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration if you need help for drug addiction at 1-800-662-4357, Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center refused to cooperate with audit, says PA Auditor General. In all, 17 suspects were stung. prisons spend $15M after guards were sickened by K2. "We work every day to stop those who bring dangerous drugs and guns into our neighborhoods. "Drug traffickers should be put on notice that when we identify a suspicious parcel, we will use all of our investigative resources to identify those responsible. Have a question about Government Services? 60 nabbed in massive drug bust By SANDRA K. REABUCK Apr 23, 2008 In one of Cambria County's largest drug investigations, which culminated Wednesday, authorities have arrested about 60. A second mate and a crew member have been arrested in the massive bust. Almost two tonnes of methamphetamine has been seized by Australian police - the biggest bust of the drug in the country's history. 11, according to the release and court records. Zappala said he could not say how the 23 kilograms seized Monday made its way to Philadelphia or entered the United States, noting it may very well have entered through a legal port of entry. Disclosure: 18 Biggest Drug Busts In U.S. History is originally published at Insider Monkey. Officers intercepted a truck carrying 55 million methamphetamine tablets and. PITTSBURGHAfter a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Homewood section of the City of Pittsburgh and other communities in the Greater Pittsburgh area, 40 people have been indicted . Sign up below to receive 10% OFF your entire order! PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - More than two dozen people have been indicted for their alleged links to an international drug ring in Pittsburgh. Domonique Taylor, 37, had his home on Moody Street in Pittsburghs Braddock neighborhood searched as part of an investigation five police departments were assisting in since Aug. 2021. She added that she feels 70 warrants issued in one day is an impressive amount for a small county. Statistics and Facts About Binge Eating Disorder, Almond Mom Yolanda Hadid Fuels Diet Culture. The 50 pounds of cocaine worth $10 million seized in North Braddock this week marked the region's biggest drug bust in recent memory, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala. "Operation Tripwire," a two-year investigation with international, federal, state and local partners, identified and dismantled the organizations national network and operations from California and Arizona to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Allegheny County District Attorneys Office. The investigation began in the winter of 1988 with a street-level buy by a Philadelphia police officer, the state police said. In October 1989, two labs, 30 pounds of speed and a half pound of cocaine were seized. to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts. You cant enter the war on drugs with nickels and dimes, he said. The investigation was headed by the District Attorney Narcotics Enforcement Team and aided by the Pennsylvania State Police, North Versailles police and Swissvale police. The indictments were the result of a three-year investigation involving state and local police from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ronald Haggerty Jr., of the Connellsville City Police Department, said the 45 of the approximately 70 individuals had been apprehended. Dozens of people were arrested and more than 9,000 packets of drugs were seized in a major heroin sweep in Hazelton, Pa. . 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The warranted search led to the discovery of multiple drugs, guns, vehicles, and more than $545,000 in cash on Mar. Unfortunately, this scheme has gone on for quite some time, Zappala said. 700 Grant Street, Suite 4000 Source/Pennsylvania Attorney General A grand jury investigation uncovered evidence of a meth ring that distributed drugs from Philadelphia to towns in Blair County, Pennsylvania, authorities said. Officials, in one day, issued approximately 70 arrest warrants. The Monroeville, Penn Hills, Elizabeth Township, Munhall, and Wilkinsburg police departments worked alongside the Office of Attorney General over the course of this investigation. Zappala said the case builds on collaborative law enforcement work by local and federal officials to keep drugs out of the region. A search of the two mens vehicles turned up 23 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the hydraulic traps. (Cox Media Group/Cox Media Group). La-Verna Fountain, press secretary for the state police, declined to comment on whether this drug ring is linked to other methamphetamine rings in the nation or to past major busts in Pennsylvania. The cocaine ring was among the largest in the history of Western Pennsylvania, Brady said. Johnstown, PA 15901, Pittsburgh:412-644-3500 Operation Tripwire began shortly after Allegheny Countys designation as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and represents the most significant HIDTA prosecution to date. All told, the amount of cocaine seized had a street value of $2 million. Zappala said investigators learned from the FBI that Clark and Suggs Jr. have lengthy criminal records related to drug charges and have been linked to major drug trafficking operations originating in countries such as Colombia and Mexico. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. . Jermaine Clark and Terry Suggs Jr. were booked into Allegheny County Jail on drug and conspiracy charges. For overdose and related medical emergencies please dial 911. Brady said law enforcement has been going zone by zone and neighborhood by neighborhood to take out street gangs, drug rings and violent offenders. And information you need, right to your inbox into Allegheny County on. The hydraulic traps, said the case builds on collaborative law enforcement immediately, '' said Vernon to inbox... Massive bust, '' said Vernon your options regarding Ad Choices to law enforcement was seized, Montgomery County the... 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