Pa. Attorney General: Authorities Seize More Than $2.6 Million In Heroin, Fentanyl During Drug Bust
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Pennsylvania attorney general announced Tuesday authorities made a multi-million dollar heroin and fentanyl bust in the Feltonville section of Philadelphia over the weekend.
State Attorney General Josh Shapiro said 24-year-old Cesar Guzman and 30-year-old Duagermy Sanchez-Rosario, both of the 4300 block of North 4th Street, were arrested Sunday night after authorities say they seized 7.2 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl valued at more than $2.6 million.
"These drug dealers were trafficking an extraordinary amount of heroin, which they were mixing with fentanyl to make it even deadlier," said Shapiro. "The drugs we seized would have created 250,000 doses of heroin and fentanyl to be sold and used on our city's streets. That is 250,000 death sentences avoided."
Shapiro says authorities also recovered a loaded handgun, drug bags stamped "Demolition Man," two scales, more than $6,500 in cash and other paraphernalia.
The bust was made following a month-long investigation into Guzman and Sanchez-Rosario.
Rosalin Picardo, a victim's advocate who works in Kensington, said this type of drug bust saves lives.
"I think it's great. Making a bust that big saves lives. It saves a lot of lives. We could be burying another 600 people but instead those lives are saved by making the bust here in Philadelphia," said Picardo.
Picardo, who carries a bag containing Narcan, has reversed many overdoses, but heroin-laced fentanyl is usually too potent.
"The fentanyl is very hard to manage. You can't even reverse a dose with fentanyl," she said.
That's why she's glad to see these men arrested, and while their product is gone, she knows it will soon be replaced, which is why she's hoping another bust soon happens.
"You're saving my friends' lives that I've been working with the past three years, you're saving someone's daughter, somebody's uncle, somebody's mother," said Picardo.
The two suspects have been charged with possession with intent to deliver, dealing in proceeds and criminal conspiracy, among other related offenses.
They are being held on $1.5 million bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 27.
If convicted, they could face between 59 to 74 years behind bars.