PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police say a three-day operation last week resulted in more than five dozen arrests, more than two dozen guns off the street, and about $1.4 million in drugs.
City, state and federal law enforcement swarmed neighborhoods in Kensington, targeting drug houses, the open-air market, and SEPTA subways.
Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said 175 people were arrested and 79 total warrants were served. Of the 175 arrests, 86 of them were for possession with the intent to deliver, and 12 were for those with a firearm and possession with the intent to deliver.
Officials say they helped about a dozen people struggling with addiction.
“When they do approach them, they’ll ask if they want them to go into a diversion program,” Vanore explained. “It requires them to enter into the program willingly and then the charges are deferred.”
There was also a wound care unit on site to help those who had significant injuries linked to drug injection.
On the third day, police say 50 bike patrol officers, VICE and SEPTA police swarmed the area to issue quality-of-life citations. There were 24 VICE arrests for solicitation and prostitution.
In total, 1,200 grams of heroin, more than 850 grams of fentanyl, and 60 pounds of marijuana were netted. Investigators say usually there’s a mixture of other chemicals in the packets – testing for those drugs will take weeks.
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