Even though the City of Brotherly Love is considered a hotspot for heroin by law enforcement, $23 million worth of cocaine was recently seized in a high-profile trafficking bust that targeted large quantity dealers. Over 500 pounds were confiscated and six individuals were charged with running the illicit venture, which authorities allege was smuggling loads of cocaine into the city and surrounding regions by way of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
“While I’m always pleased when we arrest multiple drug dealers, more importantly we kept this poison off our streets and away from our children, especially in southeast Pennsylvania where so many people are concentrated,” Attorney General Kathleen Kane, who is currently on trial for perjury and obstruction in Montgomery County, said in a news release.
The illicit organization used a warehouse in West Cambria Street in North Philly to store the drugs. Authorities speculate that the drugs were coming through the Port of Philadelphia from as far away as Colombia.
“Our message to the drug trafficking organizations is this,” said Brian Michael, from Homeland Security Investigations. “Philadelphia’s International Airports and seaports are open for business, but not their business.”
The raid, which was part of a joint investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, came after two North Philly traffic stops which led police to the warehouse used to stash the cocaine.
Police conducted surveillance on the warehouse and followed a car that left the address. Upon delivery of more than 80 pounds of cocaine, the suspects were arrested and a warrant served on the warehouse, where the rest of the cocaine was discovered.
The six men have all been charged with one count of conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, possession of a controlled substance, and manufacturing, delivery or possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The men—two from New York, two from Pennsylvania, and one each from Florida and Puerto Rico—are facing 10 to life on the conspiracy charges alone and are being held on bails starting at $1 million. John Olmedo, 48, of East Clementine Street, was the only one who called Philadelphia home.