Two Montco residents arrested in heroin bust

Police in Montgomery County seized $330,000 worth of heroin in a drug bust this week.

Two Norristown residents were arrested Tuesday after detectives learned they had obtained one kilogram of heroin, said Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.

One kilogram of heroin amounts to 33,000 doses of the drug, Ferman said.

Tuesday's "seizure is significant not only because of the value of of the heroin but also for the quantity of heroin that law enforcement has prevented from getting into the hands of those whose lives would be destroyed by this deadly drug," Ferman said in an announcement of the arrests.

Montgomery County detectives intercepted a phone call Monday between a man in Mexico with ties to the Philadelphia area and another man, whose name officials are withholding due to an ongoing investigation. The Mexican man helped the other man get in touch with others in Southeastern Pennsylvania to coordinate a drug deal involving heroin, Ferman said.

Gladiz Basurto-Leal, of Norristown, met the man in King of Prussia Tuesday to purchase one kilogram of heroin, Ferman said, and detectives learned that she took it to the Norristown home of Erik Lopez.

His home was searched Tuesday; officials said they seized one kilogram of heroin, a 9 mm pistol, and money.

Basurto-Leal, 25, and Lopez, 24, were arraigned on drug charges Tuesday. Bail for each defendant was set at $500,000 cash.

- Laura McCrystal