5 more suspects arrested in $1.5-million drug ring
Five more suspects have been arrested as part of a takedown of a large drug-trafficking organization in Berks County.
The multi-agency investigation, called Operation Knockout, led to the filing of charges against 29 people and the seizure of large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl with a total street value of $1.5 million.
It was conducted by the district attorney’s office, Reading police, state police, sheriff’s office and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
As a result of traffic stops, searches in Reading, West Lawn and Shillington, and undercover drug buys, authorities seized 9 kilograms of cocaine, 4,885 fake opioid pills containing fentanyl, additional fentanyl, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, synthetic marijuana (also known as K2), $68,349, 10 handguns and one rifle.
Eighteen suspects were taken into custody during an initial raid in October, and more were arrested in the days that followed.
The defendants during the initial raid were charged with delivery and possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, corrupt organizations, criminal use of communication facilities and conspiracy to commit those offenses.
Of the seven suspects who remained at large in October, five have now been arrested, county detectives said in a press release Tuesday.
The following were arrested, but their status following arraignment was not immediately available:
• Robert Quinter, 64, of the 400 block of Walnut Street, arrested Oct. 21 on a traffic stop by Exeter Township police. Bail was set at $10,000.
• Angel Castillo-Cruz, 36, Toms River, N.J., who turned himself in Oct. 26. Bail was set at $200,000.
• Rahim Shakir Mathies, 41, of the first block of Carroll Street, who turned himself in Oct. 26. Bail was set at $25,000.
• Ramiro Gonzalez, 45, of the 300 block of South Eighth Street, who turned himself in Oct. 27. Bail was set at $200,000.
• Jose Lopez, 47, of the 500 block of Moss Street, who turned himself in Nov. 15. Bail was set at $750,000.
Two suspects remain at large:
• Jeffrey Kanelos, 44, of the 900 block of Buttonwood Street.
• Moises Franco, 34, of the first block of Crestmont Street.
District Attorney John T. Adams said in October that the drug operation has direct links to a Mexican drug cartel.
Among the most troubling aspects of the operation is that it was selling supposed opioid pills that actually contained varying amounts of fentanyl, Adams said.
Those buying the pills could not have known what exactly they were getting, or that the pills could have contained lethal doses of fentanyl, he said.
There have been a rising number of deadly overdoses in Berks in recent years due to that type of manipulation of drugs, he said.