$3.3 million in heroin confiscated in Philly

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 DEA agent Gary Tuggle talks about the bust as District Attorney  Seth Williams looks on. (Tom MacDonald/ WHYY)

DEA agent Gary Tuggle talks about the bust as District Attorney Seth Williams looks on. (Tom MacDonald/ WHYY)

Philadelphia and federal authorities have removed $3.3 million in heroin from the city streets after breaking up a major drug organization.

The investigation began in March, said city District Attorney Seth Williams, later discovering what they believed was a stash house for drugs and money in the Northeast. After extensive surveillance, investigators stopped a car in late April, he said. And that officers to the heroin.

“The team searched 1818 Bergen Street and found eight additional kilograms of heroin in 18 racks each containing 50 bundles for a total of 11,700 individual packets of heroin with various stamps,” Williams said.

Even though the drugs are off the street and three people are in custody on drug charges in addition to conspiracy and racketeering counts, there’s now a void that will be filled, said Drug Enforcement Administration agent Gary Tuggle.

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“I’m sure it’s already been felt on the street, but somebody’s going to step up to fill that and, hopefully, collectively, we will there to address them as well,” Tuggle said.

The arrests send a message, Williams said.

“Some people hear the police, the DEA the district attorney’s office made another drug bust, and this is a cat and mouse game,” he said. “I’m here to say this is more than a cat and mouse game, and we caught some people. “

Williams said authorities will continue to shut down drug houses to make the city streets safer.

 

 

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