Crime & Safety
Cheltenham Man Busted In Cocaine-Trafficking Group
The man was among 10 people indicted in a Philadelphia-based drug organization that worked with a Mexican cartel, authorities said.
CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — A township man is among 10 people indicted on federal charges for their roles in a Philadelphia drug-trafficking organization that received hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from a Mexican drug cartel, authorities said.
Shawn Bell of Cheltenham was charged with conspiracy to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine in the scheme, authorities said.
Gregory Jones and Edward Basley coordinated with the cartel to transport cocaine from Mexico, according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.
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Their group, which federal authorities called the Jones-Basley Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), pushed $5-10 million worth of drugs onto the city's streets each month, Metcalf said.
"Literal truckloads of cocaine have been seized as a result of this case and kept from flooding our city," Metcalf said Wednesday.
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The FBI arrested five of the ring members on Tuesday in coordinated operations, officials said. The rest were already in state or federal custody.
Patch Staff Writer June Bakan contributed to this report
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