We will continue until we can stamp out the ultimate source.. "This large amount of fentanyl was seized at 122 Pennwyn Place, the location where Daniel Delacruz was operating from.". That does not mean the source has been eliminated completely, Adams said. Berks County has seen more than 100 overdoses and one death since Saturday from a bad batch of drugs, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said Tuesday afternoon, and officials are not entirely sure what is in the drugs. There was an error processing your request. Authorities said they also seized nine vehicles, more than $200,000 in cash, and 21 guns during the searches. Narcan does not reverse the effect of whatever this toxin is, Santoro said. "It made a big dent in that specific organization's income and supply," Pentheny said, "but just like anything else, you arrest one person and there's multiple people lining up to take their place. "Stop selling your poison in our communities, because its not gonna be tolerated, and with these arrests, I think we severed a pipeline in our region," said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. Detectives from Berks and Schuylkill counties, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Reading police teamed up for what they called "Operation Crystal Blue," an investigation targeting an alleged drug trafficking organization operating in Berks, Lancaster, and Schuylkill counties. One of those organizations, officials said, spanned a vast area, with networks in other Pennsylvania cities, including Allentown, Harrisburg, and York, as well as in Florida, New York, and Puerto Rico. "During that six months, we determined that this organization was responsible for distributing over $10 million of controlled substances," Adams said. "This case is a testament to the millions of men, women, and children who are trafficked worldwide and, in every city, suburb, and town in this great commonwealth.". Multiple specimens have been sent to a specialty lab in an effort to determine what is in the drugs, Santoro said. "Numerous parcels destined for residences in Reading, Pa., were intercepted and seized by the postal service," Adams said. Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams and Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced Friday that 27 people were charged with operating a large-scale drug trafficking. June 24, 2014, 1:44 PM. Authorities said they seized evidence that included 27.5 kilograms of cocaine with a potential street value of $2.7 million and 5.5 kilograms of fentanyl with a potential street value of $1.6 million. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. A total of twenty-three mid to high-level suspects were identified and charged with committing offenses involving violations of the PA Crimes . Tornielli said his department received complaints about illegal drug sales coming from a home in the 300 block of North 8th Street. By Reading Eagle. Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices, cap costs at $35 for many people with diabetes. It is also part of a larger initiative by the Moran administration to ensure the community has safe streets and neighborhoods. Austin Davis about making history, why he got into public service, Historians remember folklore and legend surrounding the 'Lizzie Lincoln House', Berks History Center, NAACP discuss more inclusive exhibit opportunities, Police seek thief suspected in over a dozen burglaries at Lowe's stores, Exeter supervisors meet in relative peace, Hearing continues on proposed expansion of Bethlehem Landfill, Nazareth girl holds book drive to donate to elementary students, Lehigh Valley Legends join sports buddies program for kids, Palmer Twp. Authorities announced the arrest of 48 people during an . Reading police, the District Attorneys Offices drug task force, state police and officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agencies worked together to launch an intensive joint investigation to discover the source of the tainted drugs. 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 . There was an error processing your request. Milder with a mix of clouds and sun. The bust was the result of a nine-month investigation which ramped up in the last 30 days, officials said at a news conference Tuesday. "This was a multi-million dollar drug organization with connections as far west as Los Angeles, California, as far south as Puerto Rico," said Berks County District Attorney John Adams, who announced results of the joint investigation during a news conference in Reading on Thursday. With the help of the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Reading Police Department, and a host of others, 27 people are being charged with dealing large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine being delivered from Mexico to Reading. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. The person police said ran it all? Police also seized $4,187 vials of cocaine (street value of $41,800), 508 grams of bulk methamphetamine (street value of $50,800), 7lbs. The bust was the result of a nine-month investigation which ramped up in. Source: West Reading Police Department Charges: The district attorney said it's not a new approach, but it's on the rise again. The organization utilized numerous sites within their territory as stash houses, points of sales and means to launder proceeds. om . Jeremy Long came to the Reading Eagle in 2017 as a reporter covering the Reading School District city edition and was later named the city reporter. 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. Individuals were arrested Thursday in an early-morning round-up. Breezy at times too.. Mostly cloudy with a shower possible late. Those taken into custody include Aurelio Carrazana-Sanchez, the suspected head of the ring. Those who have been arrested as a result of the investigation were identified as: Luis Irizarry, 27, of Reading Nelson Rivera, 37, of Reading Carlos Balestier-Marrero, 29, of Reading David Delacruz, 36, of Cumru Township Angel Concepcion-Collazo, 24, of Reading Angel Morales-Rivera, 20, of Reading Wilfredo Alicea, 46, of Reading Joseph Parry, 29, of Muhlenberg Township Lewis Lembric, 26 (was already in jail at time of bust) Luke Williams, 30, of Reading Pablo Valentin-Maldonado, 38, of Reading Jamal Coleman, 28, of Reading John Ballard, 31, of Reading Ismael Mestre-Vazquez, 42, of Reading Vicki Bagenstose, 57, of Muhlenberg Township Robert Undheim, 53, of Muhlenberg Township Mike Rowe, 54, of Spring Township Roberto Garcia-Ramos, 32, of Reading Alexandria Hughes, 22, of Exeter Township Roberto Ortiz, 36, of Reading Dean Moyer, 54, Muhlenberg Township David Starke, 47, of Ontelaunee Township Restituto Leibensperger, 48, of Reading Enrique Ayala, 29, of Bethlehem Eunice Noemi Ortiz-Saez, 30, of Reading "Their bails have been set anywhere from $50,000 to $9 million," Adams said. Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices, cap costs at $35 for many people with diabetes. He said they also confiscated several weapons and cash, including some from a secret compartment in Rivera's car. 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!' & Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; 35 780-113(a)(31) Possession of small amount of marijuana; Source: Douglass Township Police Department. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Detectives arrested the alleged leader of the organization, Luis Pacheco, and his main underling, Jose Antonio Torres-Rodriguez, while serving the search warrant at 343 S. 7th Street. Officers representing several agencies executed warrants to search two addresses in the county, one on Meade Terrace in Shillington and the other on South Seventh Street in Reading, following a city police vice unit investigation. "People are dying every day from overdosing on some of the substances that were confiscated in this investigation," said Berks County District Attorney John Adams. Postal workers also came in close contact with the heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Berks County has seen more than 100 overdoses and one death since Saturday from a "bad batch of drugs," Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said Tuesday afternoon, and officials. 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. 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. Bail was set at $1,000,000 for each defendant. During this phase of the investigation, it became apparent that this organization may have been tied to a United States Postal Service (USPS) case where they were investigating parcels of cocaine and fentanyl being shipped via United States Postal Service priority express mail, originating in Mexico to Puerto Rico and destined for Reading, PA. An analysis of intelligence and data suggested that the best course of action to neutralize this criminal enterprise would be non-consensual interception of certain members communications. About Us; For Criminal Justice; For the Public; In the News; Directory. [] "The individuals charged today manipulated and abused terrified, vulnerable young women. The police said the home in Shillington was where they were supplying the house in the city, which was where most of the drug sales were happening. We're coming to get you,"O'Pake said. There was an error processing your request. 881. On 16 June 2014, Wayda was arrested in Toms River, NJ. 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. Detectives from the Berks County District Attorneys Office have dismantled a large-scale illegal drug distribution network headquartered in the south side of the City of Reading. 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. Streets and neighborhoods of 48 people during an 2014, Wayda was arrested in Toms River, NJ mid high-level! Organization utilized Numerous sites within their territory as stash houses, points of sales and means to launder.... 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berks county drug bust 2021