DA Announces Chester County’s Biggest Ever Drug Bust

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Chester County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WEST CHESTER, PA — Law enforcement officials gathered at the Chester County District Attorney’s Office Wednesday to announce dozens ofarrests in what officials called the largest drug ring prosecution in the county’s history.

Forty-four people were arrested and 12 more are wanted on outstanding warrants in what authorities dubbed “Operation Telaraña,” a year-long multi-agency probe targeting a major cocaine trafficking network with ties to a dangerous Mexican drug cartel.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan led a press conference Wednesday morning that included members of local police departments, state police, a regional drug enforcement task force, and federal agentsfrom the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Salvadore Lemus, 65, was arrested on May 1 after a lengthy investigation identified him as the leader of a major cocaine trafficking network with ties to a violent Mexican drug cartel, according to police. Authorities said his 23-year-old son, Francisco Lemus, acted as Lemus’ lieutenant. A nephew, Mario Hernandez Garcia, was also arrested.

Read more: http://www.dailylocal.com/general-news/20140528/photo-gallery-da-announces-countys-biggest-ever-drug-bust

Investigation Shows Heroin-Related Deaths Are Not Accurately Counted

English: Modified IM/IV syringe used for “plugging” heroin. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Elected officials, law enforcement officers and others proclaim there’s a heroin “epidemic” sweeping the country, and it’s taking hold in rural and suburban communities once considered unlikely places to find illicit drugs.

But nobody knows how many people have died.

Nobody knows how many have overdosed and survived.

Nobody even knows for certain where the problem is most severe.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140511/investigation-shows-heroin-related-deaths-are-not-accurately-counted/1

Pittston Couple Charged With Selling Synthetic Pot

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WEST PITTSTON, PA — The owners of an Exeter smoke shop were arraigned Wednesday on charges they sold synthetic marijuana, racking up as much as $5,000 in sales a day, according to arrest papers.

The state Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation allege Sharleen Palaima, 62, and her husband, Alfonse Richard Palaima, 64, of Division Street, Pittston, sold synthetic marijuana from their business, Magikal Garden, on Wyoming Avenue from March 2012 through the end of July 2012.

Magikal Garden was one of many retail smoke stores and gasoline service stations across the state raided on July 26, 2012, in Operation Artificial High, an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office, state police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The searches resulted in the seizure of more than 300,000 doses of synthetic marijuana and illegal bath salts, with an estimated street value of $1.25 million, and more than 50,000 pieces of drug paraphernalia related to the smoking or consumption of synthetic drugs, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/824132/Pittston-couple-charged-with-selling-synthetic-pot

Free National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Tri-County Community Network Supports Drug Enforcement Administration

Pottstown, Pa. (October 20, 2011) – The Tri-County Community Network (TCN), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health, social and environmental conditions in Western Montgomery, Northern Chester and Eastern Berks counties, is renewing support this month for efforts by area law enforcement agencies to collect unused prescription drugs, taking them out of the hands of youth and helping to protect public water supplies, as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Casey Jones, a member of TCN’s Education & Advocacy Team and the C.A.R.E. committee, said the organization is promoting positive response by its members and their communities to the 3^rd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, October 29, at various area locations.

Law enforcement agencies will be supervising free, no-questions-asked collection of unused prescription drugs, often found accumulating in home medicine cabinets and drawers, at several community locations, including designated supermarkets and pharmacies.

Collection sites within the Greater Pottstown area include:

• Pottstown – Giant Food Store, 86 Glocker Way, Pottstown (North Coventry Police) and Lower Pottsgrove Police Department, 2199 Buchert Road
• Birdsboro – Birdsboro Pharmacy Parking Lot, 310 West Main Street
• Gilbertsville – Giant Markets, 173 Holly Road (Douglass Township Police)
• Phoenixville – Borough Hall, 140 Church Street, and Giant Food Store at 700 Nutt Road
• Schwenksville – Pennsylvania State Police – Skippack Barracks, 2047-C Bridge Road
• Zieglerville – Lower Frederick Township Police, 53 Spring Mount Road
• Oaks – Upper Providence Township Police, 286 Black Rock Road

Individuals also may drop off prescription drugs at other locations found at the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back website at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback.

Jones, a families advocate who undertakes community outreach as part of the Transformation Initiative for Building Healthy Communities Through Healthy Families, said the national collection program complements a significant number of TCN’s own collaborative initiatives in the areas of health, education, environmental awareness, youth and family development, assistance to caregivers, and homelessness.

“Prescription drugs have become a new drug of choice for youth,” he said, noting that national survey results from the DEA found one in seven teens admitting to abusing prescription drugs to get high during the past year, with 60 percent of teens who have abused prescription pain relievers having done so before the age of 15.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that unused prescriptions, poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet, may enter streams and rivers and, ultimately, end up in municipal water supplies.

In addition to promoting proper disposal of unused prescription drugs, TCN is seeking to educate the public, including children, about the dangers associated with un-prescribed use of medicines.  It will be providing posters and other materials to its members and the public for distribution to and education of individuals, employees and clients.

During the last National Prescription Drug Take Back in April 2011, over a half ton of unused prescription drugs were collected in both Montgomery and Chester counties, reflecting over 12.5% of the total state-wide collection total.

Members of the public who would like to promote this activity with posters or handbills, that also can be used as church bulletin inserts, may obtain them from TCN at info@tcnetwork.org.

Additional information about the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day initiative, along with the searchable database of collection sites in neighboring areas and nationally, is available at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback.

TriCounty Community Network Supports Drug Enforcement Administration National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Image via Wikipedia

Pottstown, Pa. (April 26, 2011) – TriCounty Community Network (TCN), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health, social and environmental conditions in Western Montgomery, Northern Chester and Eastern Berks counties in Pennsylvania, today announced its support of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day initiative on April 30 to help protect youth and the environment from the negative potential impacts of unused prescription drugs.

Casey Jones, a member of TCN’s Education & Advocacy Team and the C.A.R.E. committee, said the organization is promoting to its members and their communities participation in this important program, which provides the opportunity for free, safe disposal of unused prescription drugs that often are found in home medicine cabinets.

No-questions-asked Take Back Day collection sites will be open between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at several area community locations, including designated supermarkets, under jurisdiction of participating police departments.

        Collection sites within the Greater Pottstown area include:

Pottstown – Giant Markets, 86 Glocker Way, Pottstown (North CoventryPolice) and Lower Pottsgrove Police Department,2199 Buchert Road.

Douglassville -Amity Township Police, 2004 Weavertown Road.

Gilbertsville – Giant Markets, 173 Holly Road(Douglass Township Police).

Phoenixville – Police Department, 140 Church Street, and Giant Markets at 700 Nutt Road.

Schwenksville -Pennsylvania State Police – Skippack Barracks, 2047-C Bridge Road.

Zieglerville -Lower Frederick Township Police, 53 Spring Mount Road.

Oaks -Upper Providence Township Police, 286 Black Rock Road.

Individuals may also drop off prescription drugs at other locations found at the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back website at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback.

Jones, who undertakes community outreach as a Transformation Initiative for Building Healthy Communities Through Healthy Families, said the national collection program complements a significant number of TCN’s own collaborative initiatives in the areas of health, education, environmental awareness, youth and family development, assistance to caregivers and homelessness.

“Prescription drugs are becoming a new drug of choice for youth,” he said, noting that national survey results from the DEA found one in seven teens admitting to abusing prescription drugs to get high during the past year, with 60 percent of teens who have abused prescription pain relievers having done so before the age of 15.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that unused prescriptions, poured down the drain or flushed down the toilet, may enter streams and rivers and, ultimately, end up in municipal water supplies.

In addition to promoting proper disposal of unused prescription drugs, TCN is seeking to educate the public, including children, about the dangers associated with un-prescribed use of medicines.  It will be providing posters and other materials to its members and others for distribution to and education of individuals, employees and clients.

Members of the public that also would like to promote this activity with posters or handbills, that also can be used as church bulletin inserts, may obtain them from TCN at info@tcnetwork.org.

Additional information about the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day initiative, along with the searchable database of collection sites in neighboring areas, is available at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback.

About TriCounty Community Network                 

TCN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, membership-based organization that partners with nonprofits, businesses and community members to improve health, social and environmental conditions.  Serving Western Montgomery, Northern Chester and Eastern Berks counties in Pennsylvania, TCN offers seven key programs: Build Up Youth, C.A.R.E. (Caring in Alternative Residential Environments), Environmental Awareness, Family Literacy, Homeless Services, S.A.F.E. (Supporting Abuse Free Environments), and Workforce Development.  For more information on TCN, call 610-705-3301 or visit www.tcnetwork.org.