Operation leads to seizure of drugs, one arrest

A 47-year-old man was arrested Thursday during a vice operation at a Bethlehem “stash house” that led to the seizure of a large amount of fentanyl and other drugs worth $400,000 on the streets, Bethlehem police said.

Bethlehem detectives seized 1,100 grams of loose fentanyl, 1,200 bags of fentanyl and 660 blue-colored fentanyl pills while serving a search warrant at a home in the 1100 block of Livingston Street. Police also recovered 300 grams of cocaine, 90 packets of naloxone and suboxone during the operation.

Police said the drugs have a street value of $400,000.

Daniel Matos, of the 700 block of Pawnee Street in Bethlehem, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, cocaine, naloxone and suboxone and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in Northampton County Prison on other drug related charges from this investigation and a detainer, police said.

This investigation is ongoing and additional charges are still possible.

Detectives with Bethlehem police’s Vice Unity and Special Operations Unit were involved in serving the warrant that also led to the recovery of drug paraphernalia. Several hundred dollars in cash were seized, police said.

Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio said the operation and arrest was the “result of citizen complaints, cooperation, information, surveillance and good old-fashioned police work by city detectives over the past several months.”

“From the amount of fentanyl seized and other controlled substances seized as a direct result of this investigation and arrest, there is no doubt in my mind that human lives were saved,” he said in a statement. “I would personally like to thank the citizens that came forward with information and to the detectives who conducted the investigation to what I consider a successful and lifesaving conclusion.”