Pocono News Section

20 suspects named in Heroin crackdown!

20 suspects named in Heroin crackdown! - Friday, August 29, 2008 at 12:53PM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo WYOU TV News
Friday, Aug 29, 2008 @ 12:53pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY

State Attorney General Tom Corbett held a news conference in Scranton Friday morning to announce a series of arrests in what he calls "Operation Open Market."

The undercover drug investigation was started in 2007. It was set up to focus of alleged street-level trafficking of drugs. The target area was South Scranton.

Attorney General Corbett said the suspects were dealing with heroin usually cut down from bricks of the drug. Corbett said "Today's arrests show how affordable and accessible heroin is in Scranton.

20 individuals were named as suspects in the case. Corbett identified two of them, Mike Torres and Elizabeth Rodriguez- Guaman, both of Scranton, as "significant dealers "who, he said, sold most of the drugs.

Corbett said the suspects delt in "designer label drugs" with such names as "Boom, Iron Man, King Kong, Renegade, Black Lable, Sex in the City, and America on Line" among others.

The Attorney General said the investigation is continuing and the hope is that those arrested will provide information leading to higher level drug suppliers.