11 Kilos Of Heroin, Fentanyl Seized In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — Authorities took a large amount of heroin and fentanyl off the street following a drug bust in North and Northeast Philadelphia, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

The DA's office said 11 kilos of heroin and fentanyl were seized and authorities arrested the purported ringleader of a drug trafficking operation.

Samuel Sanchez, 38, has been charged with various drug crimes in connection with the investigation, which began in May 2018.

His bail was set at 10 percent of $10 million.

Last May, the joint task force comprised of the DA's office, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Sanchez’s drug trafficking organization, which mainly operated in North and Northeast Philadelphia, the DA's office said.

Troopers and agents began purchasing large amounts of heroin and fentanyl from Sanchez, according to the DA's office.

The investigation also yielded enough evidence to identify numerous individuals, residential locations, and vehicles that were associated with Sanchez’s organization, the DA's office said.

On Thursday, Sept. 12, law enforcement executed 11 search warrants for various properties and vehicles and arrested Sanchez.

The joint task force seized 8.5 kilograms of a heroin/fentanyl mixture, 750 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 101 baggies of heroin, approximately 2,000 grams of loose or packaged heroin and fentanyl, $10,400 in U.S. currency, 16 cellular telephones, two kilogram presses for processing drugs, and six vehicles, two of which contained hidden compartments installed after market, numerous heroin stamps and baggies, scales, and other drug paraphernalia, the DA's office said.

Sanchez’s will appear in court for his preliminary hearing on Sept. 27