Two Drexel students are among the five people arrested and accused of operating a "huge" LSD ring on the campus of Drexel University.
Investigators with the Philadelphia District Attorney's office said the drug ring was likely going on for about a year before they were able to break it up. The three non-students accused of masterminding the operation were taking home anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 a week, investigators said.
According to the DA's press release, one of the Drexel students began cooperating with police earlier this month after he was arrested in Upper Moreland on marijuana and gun charges. That student led investigators to a second Drexel student accused of being the campus supplier for the operation. He too became a confidential informant, allowing investigators to record phone calls of drug transactions, according to the District Attorney.
In an overnight raid on Florence Street, drug agents confiscated 9,500 hits of LSD worth about $28,000 on the street, according to the DA. They arrested the three alleged masterminds of the operation -- Raphael Zappala and Joshua Dassay, both from Philadelphia and Wesley Crawford from Ardmore. Those three face various drug violations and one charge of endangering the welfare of a child because a baby was at the apartment during the raid, according to the DA.
The two Drexel students are expected to be charged with drug possession.
Drexel University issued this statement:
Drexel University has a zero tolerance policy for any type of illegal activity and takes immediate disciplinary action, including criminal prosecution. Drexel University Police fully cooperated with the District Attorney’s Dangerous Drug Offender Unit, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and Philadelphia Police, resulting in the arrests of five people connected to an LSD ring operating in University City.
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Although two Drexel students were involved, the masterminds of the operation arrested today were not affiliated in any way with Drexel and operated out of a house on 48th Street, not on the Drexel campus.
The University complies with all state and federal regulation in the dissemination of information. When Drexel is made aware of any students participating in illegal behavior, the University places them on indefinite suspension pending the outcome of the investigation by Philadelphia and Drexel police.
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