Pocono News Section

Major Heroin Drug Bust Spanning Several Counties

Major Heroin Drug Bust Spanning Several Counties - Friday, February 1, 2008 at 6:16PM EST

Reported by: Jill Konopka
Friday, Feb 1, 2008 @06:16pm EST
Local authorities say they’ve busted up a large scale heroin operation that spanned three counties... The three month investigation started in Lackawanna County then spread down to Wilkes-Barre with ties in Wayne County as well It's called “Operation Cooperation” and authorities believe it’s going to put a major dent in the local heroin problem. Authorities say it was an operation pushing up to 3,000 bags of heroin a week at $20.00 a pop. Frank Noonan with the Office of the Attorney General said, "It's one of the largest seizures I’ve ever seen as far as heroin goes." Roughly $100,000.00 worth of heroin and cocaine, a stolen handgun and almost $12,000.00 police and prosecutors say they seized from 37-year-old Lamar Brown and 31-year-old Keith Fox of the Wilkes-Barre area. Both men are now jailed. Noonan added, "They had attracted a very large customer base from Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, so I think a lot of people today are scrambling." Authorities say the pair brought their customers in from both Lackawanna and Wayne counties, mostly, alleged drug dealers buying in bulk for re-sale. Officials say the men sold the heroin at a significantly reduced price outside supermarkets and department stores throughout Luzerne County. Noonan said, "They were cutting the heroin, so it was a cheaper less potent heroin, so they were basically putting the cut in and it was a attracting a great deal of customers." It’s all part of a three month investigation that started in Lackawanna County and ended in Wilkes-Barre. Lackawanna County First Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico said, "Cooperation is a key element in fighting this battle." Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll said, "We want dealers to know if they come to this area, we are going to be unrelenting in our pursuit of justice." Dealers may change but users don't and police say more arrests are coming. Authorities believe the drugs may have been coming from the New York City or Newark, New Jersey area where both men are originally from.