HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday — along with Homeland Security Investigations and Philadelphia Police Department — announced the disbanding of a major, Philadelphia-based fentanyl trafficking network with arrests of several individuals and seizures of more than $6 million worth of fentanyl and cutting agent xylazine.
Investigators made the arrests and seizures this week during vehicle stops and search warrants conducted at a home and garage in the 2800 block of North Franklin Street, where agents encountered an active fentanyl-packaging operation.
In attempts to destroy evidence, individuals packaging fentanyl threw the dangerous drug into a sink, causing intoxicants to become airborne and exposing officers. Multiple officers were treated for ingestion and ultimately released.
Seven individuals packaging the fentanyl are charged with corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver, and related offenses.
”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,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “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.”
Homeland Security Investigations, Philadelphia Police Department, the Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, and Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office served the search warrants. The Office of Attorney General will prosecute the cases.
“Considering two milligrams is a lethal dose of fentanyl, the number of lives we saved by seizing such a large quantity of deadly narcotics is astounding,” said HSI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Edward V. Owens. “At a time when overdose deaths linked to fentanyl are devastating American communities, we are incredibly proud of the collaborative investigative work our team conducted to ensure members of this drug trafficking network face justice. Through our partnership with the Philadelphia Police Department’s intensive drug investigation squad, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General‘s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, we were able to dismantle the distribution of this poison into our community.”
“Every single day, our Narcotics officers put their courage, skill, and relentless drive to work on behalf of Philadelphians, and this operation is an example of that commitment,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “Confronted with a dangerous, active fentanyl-packaging operation, they acted decisively; protecting one another, safeguarding the community, and preventing hundreds of thousands of lethal doses from ever reaching our streets. I could not be prouder of their professionalism and resilience, nor more grateful for the seamless collaboration with the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, and our other federal and state partners. Together, we dismantled a network that crossed county lines but underestimated the collective strength of unified law enforcement. This is what collaboration looks like, and it is saving lives.”
Charged are: Francisco Quesada, 40; Juan Fransella, 36; Rony Molina-Rodriquez, 29; Alexander Rodriquez Crouset, 38; Victor Jose Herrera Castillo, 33; Alexi Queada Herrera, 44; and Juan Ortiz, 37.
In all, investigators seized more than 41 pounds of fentanyl and xylazine, with an estimated street value of $6.2 million.
Investigators determined at least 200,000 doses were to be distributed in the Pittsburgh area.
Investigators also seized $185,000 in suspected trafficking profits.
The investigation is ongoing.
The cases will be prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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