Drug bust: 170K doses of heroin, fentanyl seized in Philly

PHILADELPHIA >> Pennsylvania narcotics investigators say they’ve seized 170,000 doses of heroin and fentanyl from drug traffickers in Philadelphia.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro says Thursday’s sting in the hard-hit Kensington neighborhood also netted crack cocaine, handguns, cash and a piece of heavy machinery used to package drugs. Eleven people were arrested and face a range of charges including corrupt organizations, conspiracy and drug trafficking.

Kensington is the epicenter of the city’s opioid epidemic. Philadelphia has the highest opioid death rate of any large U.S. city, with more than 1,000 deaths per year.

Shapiro says 13 houses and 15 vehicles were searched early Thursday. More than 160 law enforcement officials from federal, state and local law agencies took part.

Former Pennsylvania caregiver convicted of sexual abuse

WILKES-BARRE, PA. >> A former worker at a Pennsylvania care home has been convicted of sexually abusing a patient.

Prosecutors say 56-yearold Andrew Dula III of Shickshinny molested the 36-year-old woman at a home for people with disabilities. A jury convicted him Thursday on eight counts, including institutional sexual assault.

Dula gave a videotaped confession in which he admitted to sexually assaulting the woman. The confession was played for the jury.

Defense attorney Al Flora Jr. says Dula will appeal the verdict, citing a lack of physical evidence of a crime.

Dula was taken to jail after the verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for May.