What to Know
- A 3-month investigation led to the arrests of 14 people and the seizure of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and weapons in Kensington.
- The investigation was part of the Kensington Initiative, a partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement.
- Police said they prevented three planned shootings during the investigation.
A three-month wiretap investigation led to the prevention of three shootings and the arrests of 14 people in connection to a Kensington drug operation that involved child dealers, officials said.
The investigation also led to the seizure of six kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, two kilos of cocaine, five handguns, one rifle, $200,000 in cash, a kilo press, scales and packaging equipment, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced on Tuesday.
The investigation was part of the Kensington Initiative, a partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement to target major criminal drug organizations in Kensington. Officials called the most recent bust the largest Kensington Initiative operation to date. Officials also said they prevented three planned shootings over the course of a few weeks during the investigation.
Tuesday morning, agents executed 20 search warrants on homes, warehouses and vehicles believed to be connected to the drug ring, which investigators said had ties to Allentown and Bucks County. Police also believe the ringleaders used children to sell drugs on street corners.
“Kensington is a neighborhood ravaged by the heroin, opioid, and fentanyl epidemic, and criminal organizations such as the one we shut down today are fueling the crisis,” Shapiro said. “While the ringleaders were jetting off to award shows and expensive restaurants, they were also ravaging the lives of those in our community. I’m grateful for the hard work of our law enforcement partners in the Kensington Initiative to shut down this dangerous organization and make our streets safer for the families, children, and seniors who live there.”
The following people were arrested as a result of the investigation:
Brendan Perez, Jonathan Ramos, Jay Ramos Rosa, Jeffrey Canales Tapia, Jose Fuentes, Richard Brangen, Edgar Perez, Juan Franco Estrada, Victor Lopez, Giavonna Peterson, Luis Arroyo Galarza, Jerry Arroyo, Marin Duran, and Victor Morales.
