57 charged after bust of organization trafficking drugs in western Pa.
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Dozens of people were charged after a years-long investigation targeting a large-scale organization trafficking drugs in western Pennsylvania and throughout the country, officials announced on Friday.
Fifty-seven people were charged with violating federal narcotics and firearms laws after the joint investigation with FBI Pittsburgh, Phoenix, several other offices and Homeland Security Investigations.
The raids that have taken place over the last few days are all a part of something called "Operation Lake Effect." Its main objective is to try to quell and eliminate the drug trade from many neighborhoods.
The streets of places like Arnold are quiet after federal agents and state law enforcement descended on neighborhoods all over western Pennsylvania looking for and finding suspected illegal drugs and arresting those who allegedly deal them.
"Over the past 10 months and as a result of an extensive wiretapping investigation, agents and officers have seized more than 673 pounds of fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills, over 400 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 16 pounds each of fentanyl powder and cocaine. We've also seized over $600,000 in cash, nine vehicles, 47 firearms," said Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti.
HSI Special Agent in Charge Bill Walker said the case began in Johnstown and ended up disrupting operations as far as Mexico.
One indictment charged 24 people in Pennsylvania and Ohio and another charged 29 people based in Pheonix. Three others were also charged by criminal complaint.
The prosecutor-led multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force spearheaded the investigation.
