June 10, 2015
An investigation that began in March has led to the removal of $3.3 million in heroin from the streets of Philadelphia and the dissolution of a major drug organization.
According to Newsworks, District Attorney Seth Williams said the investigation, conducted jointly with the Drug Enforcement Agency, began after an apparent stash house for drugs and money was discovered in the Northeast. Surveillance of the property at 1818 Bergen Street led investigators to stop a car in late April, which helped them recover a total of 11,700 individual packets of heroin.
DEA agent Gary Tuggle warned, however, that the void on the street will soon be filled. Williams said the arrests send a message, however, and that authorities will continue to shut down drug houses in the city.
Separately, federal authorities said they arrested an Italian citizen over the weekend after finding almost 14 pounds of cocaine in his bag at Philadelphia International Airport, Philly.com reports.
As part of a "random enforcement blitz," the U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it found the cocaine in "six brick-shaped anomalies" in a bag that came in on a flight from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Fabio Dalloco, 45, remains in custody and is charged with drug possession counts, according to the report.
