Officials announce near-record drug bust

A joint narcotics investigation by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency has resulted in the arrest of three people  and the confiscation of $3.3 million in heroin, a bust officials believe is one of  biggest in the city's history.

Arrested Jan. 24 in Castor Gardens in Northeast Philadelphia were Gheral Alavarez-Mercedes, 30; Zamary L. Roldan, 26; and Johel Pascal-Mateo, 26. Each is charged with possession with intent to deliver and conspiracy, and could face a maximum of 60 years in prison if found guilty.

"These drugs are now off our streets," District Attorney Seth Williams said. "Today's announcement sends a clear message that Philadelphia's law enforcement community is going to keep doing all it can to keep our neighborhoods safe and as safe as they can be."

Pascal-Mateo, of Dominican origin, entered the country "without inspection," or illegally, Assistant District Attorney Melissa Francis said. Alavarez-Mercedes and Roldan are  U.S. citizens, Francis said.

The 13 kilograms of heroin confiscated during the operation was also the biggest amouont in the history of the district attorney's Dangerous Drug Offender Unit, Francis said.

"This is big," Francis said. "It's close to a half-million doses of heroin off the streets. I can't stress that enough."

Francis described the District Attorney's Office's partnership with the DEA as "an extremely fruitful one." In joint operations over the last two years, both agencies have recovered over 80 pounds of crystal meth and phentermine, 40 kilograms of heroin, and 14 kilograms of fentanyl, Francis said.

Weeks of  surveillance in the area of 7100 Bingham Street led officers to arrest Alavarez-Mercedes as he was leaving the property allegedly with 3 kilograms of heroin in a white box on Jan. 24. Officers then stopped Roldan — whom officials believe was in a relationship with Alavarez-Mercedes — as she left the property with an infant and, allegedly, a container with 8.3 kilograms of heroin.

In the residence, according to law enforcement, officers also recovered 0.5 kilograms of heroin, packaging materials, scales, 13 counterfeit $100 bills, and passports for Alavarez-Mercedes and Roldan. Officials then learned that Alavarez-Mercedes had arranged to meet with Pascal-Mateo, who allegedly was to distribute the 3 kilograms of heroin in New York City. Officers later arrested Pascal-Mateo and confiscated $485.

Williams said drug addiction "is tearing at the fabric of our society. All across America, every demographic group is affected by drug addiction and opioid addiction."

In Philadelphia, six out of seven heroin addicts fall into addiction through prescribed painkillers, he said. Williams urged family members to treat loved ones who are addicted and to dispose of unused prescription drugs at police district stations.

Bail was set at $5 million for each defendant.

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