Major Kensington Drug Ring Busted: PA AG

PHILADELPHIA — Nearly 200,000 doses of heroin and fentanyl was seized and 11 people were arrested and charged in the bust of an alleged multi-million dollar drug ring in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood Thursday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.

Shapiro announced the results of a joint federal, state and local operation to shut down a known drug trafficking operation in the Kensington neighborhood. The operation derived from a collaboration among law enforcement agencies to target major criminal drug organizations, dubbed the "Kensington Initiative."

As a result of the initiative, 11 people were charges with at least one count of corrupt organizations, conspiracy, possession with internet to deliver narcotics, and simple possession, the AG's office said.

Those arrested Thursday are:

• Edwin Parrilla, 36;
• Sandra Sanchez Pacheco, 51;
• Jonathan Pagan Rojas, 35;
• Anthony Rojas, 32;
• Kelvin Rojas, 35;
• Rafael Soto, 49;
• Moreno Rodriquez, 26;
• Raymon Rodriguez-Robles, 32;
• Steven Joel Rodriguez Burgos, 25;
• Jose Dejesus Evangelista, 35;
• and Rolfi Rodriguez, 40.

More than 160 agents and officers executed search warrants at 13 residences and 15 vehicles early Thursday morning.

The AG's office said the estimated street value of the heroin, fentanyl and other drugs distributed by the group is roughly $7.7 million annually. Authorities seized 983 grams of crack cocaine valued at $98,000 and 4,900 grams of heroin and/or fentanyl with a street value of $1.7 million — seized this morning.

Agents also recovered three handguns, $13,000 in cash, and a piece of heavy machinery known as a kilo press used for packaging drugs, according to the AG's office

The amount of heroin and fentanyl seized represents approximately 170,000 doses, which were primarily sold near the 3300 block of Argyle Street.

Most of the drug packaging paraphernalia was recovered from a residence on the 6200 block of Cardiff Street in the Northeast.

"As your Attorney General, I’m listening – and I know you want to see these drugs out of your communities, your children be able to walk to school in safety, and your streets free of these poisons," Shapiro said at a press conference Thursday. "Our communities, in Philadelphia and throughout the Commonwealth, cannot sustain the public health crises of gun violence and opioids. As the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for Pennsylvania, it is my job to target criminals like these who are holding neighborhoods hostage and bring them to justice, but we must also work together to find solutions to treat and prevent addiction to see lasting results."

The Kensington Initiative is an intelligence-led partnership primarily between the Office of Attorney General and the FBI, with support from the Philadelphia Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, SEPTA Transit Police and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard Counter Drug Aviation Unit. The first arrest stemming from this initiative came in the fall of 2018, in which three people were arrested and one additional federal indictment pending.

That operation led to further investigation and the action taken this morning.

Pictured above are Edwin Parrilla, Jonathan Pagan Rojas, Sandra Sanchez Pacheco, Anthony Rojas, Rafael Soto, Moreno Rodriquez, Raymon Rodriguez-Robles.

Image via Shutterstock