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Pocono News Section
Heroin Ring Busted in Union County
Heroin Ring Busted in Union County - Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 4:30PM EST
Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 @ 04:30pm EST
Lewisburg, Union County-
Another major drug bust in our area -- this time in Central Pennsylvania. Authorities are filing charges against 24 people in connection with a $1.2 million heroin operation in and around Union County.
One by one, alleged drug dealers and users were brought in for arraignments at the Union County Courthouse. It's the second wave of arrests related to a heroin ring authorities say has operated here since at least 2005.
One man who was released agreed to speak with us. “Tom” says he's been clean for about a year, but the heroin has already taken its toll.
He recalled, "I'd wake up everyday sick. I could barely get out of bed. I could barely shower. I could barely eat anything. I mean it was hard just to function everyday period, unless I had it. I couldn't do anything."
Tom says he used for about a year- before losing his job, his car, and even his children. He noted, "I probably lost about year with my kids because I was too sick to have anything to do with them."
A near fatal overdose finally got Tom to see the light. Now he wants others to know help is available if they're willing to accept it.
Tom cautioned, "Quit while you can because it leads nowhere. It's a dead end road. You're either going to end up in jail, I've been there, or you're going to end up dead, I was almost there."
Authorities say the heroin was brought here from Philadelphia, Reading, and Allentown. And they say, it's here because there's a demand for it.
State Attorney General Tom Corbett explained, "These people, we've taken them off the streets. Our agents, the troopers know, somebody's going to come in and take their place until we cut the demand."
But they say these arrests are good first step toward cleaning things up.
Union County District Attorney Pete Johnson added, "The good citizens of this county and the counties surrounding us will be safer in their homes, in their businesses, and in the conduct of their regular lives."
The Attorney General's office says this is an ongoing investigation, and that more arrests are possible.
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