"Today is a good day for law enforcement in Schuylkill County, it's a good day for the citizen's of Schuylkill County as well, but it's a bad day to be a drug dealer in Schuylkill County", opened DA O'Pake.
According to O'Pake, early Tuesday morning, 14 arrests were made as a result of them being involved in the distribution and sale of drugs in Schuylkill County as part of an operation called "Operation Strike 3".
It was reported to be a cooperate effort of more than 10 law enforcement agencies. Agencies involved included the Schuylkill County District Attorney's office, Luzerne County District Attorney's Office, Pennsylvania State Police Troop L, Pennsylvania State Police Troop M, Butler Township Police Department (Schuylkill), Pottsville Bureau of Police, Schuylkill Haven Police Department, Tower City Police Department, Ashland Police Department, and Frackville Police Department.
The investigation was reported to have started about 9 months ago and within the past 30 days, information led to the arrests Tuesday.
Of the drugs seized, over 5 pounds of methamphetamine, over 5 pounds of Fentynal and over 1 pound of heroin. The drugs seized were laid out across the table in front of O'Pake during the press conference.
O'Pake pointed out that the fentynal seized were street valued at over $700,000. The methamphetamine was valued in excess of $200,000 and with the other drugs found, the entire table was valued at over $1,000,000.
O'Pake said this drug bust could possibly be the biggest in Schuylkill County's history.
O'Pake said this drug bust could possibly be the biggest in Schuylkill County's history.
O'Pake thanked everyone involved in the investigation as well as Assistant District Attorney AJ Serina.
"If you are a drug dealer in Schuylkill County, Be Careful, we are coming to get you" added O'Pake.
Those arrested Tuesday were
- Miguel Carrasquillo Apolinaris AKA Domi - 900 Block West 1st Street, Hazleton
- Martin Diaz - 300 Block of West Green Street, Hazelton
- Cassandra O'Doherty AKA CC - 600 Block of North 4th Street, Mar Lin
- Sharon Smith - 0 Block of Geesaman Park Lane, Fredericksburg
- Sheila Carter - 1600 BLock of West Norwegian Street, Pottsville
- Jeremy Wengert - 500 Block of Dock Street, Schuylkill Haven
- Joseph James Ganunis - 200 Block of South 2nd Street, Saint Clair
- Christopher L Madenford - 200 Block of Main Street, Joliett
- Anthony Harold Catizone - 0 Block Shamokin Street, Ashland
- Douglass Huyett - 800 Block North Centre Street, Pottsville
- Felix Diaz - 500 Block Peace Street, Hazleton
- Yensi Mateo - 700 Block North Laurel Street, Hazleton
- Dennis Shafe - 300 Block Morgan Avenue, Pottsville
- Manuel Blijden - 100 Block of Debbie Drive, Hazleton
