May 21, 2010

40 arrested in Philly drug raids

$45K worth of crack cocaine seized alone

By Robert Moran
The Philadelphia Inquirer

PHILADELPHIA — Police arrested 40 suspected drug dealers and seized $121,000 in cash, $60,000 in narcotics, and 13 guns during a crackdown in West and Southwest Philadelphia on Thursday, a police commander said.

Officers served 40 search warrants, many along the Market Street corridor in West Philadelphia, starting at 6 a.m. and winding down late in the afternoon, Capt. James Kelly of Narcotics South said.

Of the narcotics seized, about $45,000 worth was crack cocaine in tiny plastic-capped vials - a type of packaging that is unusual now, but that was common during the heyday of the crack epidemic in the 1980s and '90s, Kelly said.

Drugs now are usually sold in tiny plastic bags, which are often available for sale in neighborhood stores.

Kelly said the surprise switch in packaging would require some follow-up investigation.

Among the 13 guns confiscated were two TEC-9s, two shotguns, and assorted handguns, Kelly said.

The remainder of the narcotics seized included marijuana, OxyContin, and some heroin, he said.

Those arrested were mostly men in their 20s, he said.

Investigators will question the suspects in hopes of getting information about shootings motivated by disputes, rivalries, or retaliation, he said.

Contact staff writer Robert Moran at 215-854-5983 or bmoran@phillynews.com.