PHILADELPHIA - State and local officials have arrested and charged 17 people they say were members of a large drug-trafficking organization that was partially run out of a North Philadelphia coffee shop.
Authorities are referring to the case as ‘Operation Cocaine and Coffee.'
What they're saying:
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, along with Pennsylvania State Police and Philadelphia police, announced the arrests of 17 members of the Louis Alexander Drug Trafficking Organization.
The group’s alleged leader, 56-year-old Louis Alexander, was among those arrested.
The suspects face various charges, including felony counts of corruption, possession and weapons offenses.
"Today marks a new day for North Philadelphians who were, for far too long, exposed to a group of criminals who did not hesitate to carry firearms to protect their lucrative trade — distributing poisons," Attorney General Sunday said. "For years, with our partners, we assembled cases against each and every charged defendant so when we took action, it would be the end of this criminal enterprise."
Sunday added during a press conference Wednesday that the group is believed to have been connected to violent crimes, in addition to drug trafficking, but those investigations are ongoing.
Officials say arrests were made while serving warrants last week at 30 locations in Philadelphia, Delaware County, and New Jersey – though most were located in North Philadelphia.
While serving warrants, investigators seized quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, ecstasy pills, cash, and 27 firearms. More than four pounds of cocaine and 130 pounds of marijuana were seized.
Central to the investigation was a storefront called ‘Cumberland Coffee & Snacks’ at the corner of West Cumberland and North Cleveland Streets.
Authorities say that store was "front" utilized by Alexander and his crew and that drugs were sold there and cocaine was cooked and packaged upstairs. Drugs were also sold on the street.
What's next:
The suspects were arraigned and bail was set at various amounts. Alexander was incarcerated on $750,000 bail.
The cases will be prosecuted by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.