A drug ring that allegedly supplied heroin and cocaine to two states has resulted in the indictment of 15 people. In Pennsylvania, the drugs were purportedly being supplied to the North Philadelphia area. Among those facing drug charges is the alleged 34-year-old leader of the ring who has multiple homes.
Police said between 20 and 30 kilograms of cocaine and heroin per month were distributed by the ring, which apparently is tied to drug suppliers in Mexico. Part of the seizure reportedly included 9 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value of $2 million on the street. Police said the ring leader is allegedly one of the highest ranking suppliers of heroin in the region. His 22-year-old girlfriend was also arrested.
Every person who was indicted on criminal drug charges may be facing jail time if found guilty in criminal court. Defense attorneys for those charged will likely review police reports of all searches and arrests to ensure due process was carried out in the arrests. If police did not conduct themselves to the letter of the law, charges could be reduced and/or evidence barred from use at trial. In such instances, cases could be thrown out entirely.
In drug cases of this nature, a Pennsylvania attorney seasoned in criminal law will assess all available information to assess whether the legal rights of his or her client were violated. When legal issues are identified, appropriate applications may be made in court to exclude evidence or seek further relief favorable to the client. Many times, the public is swayed by media reports of large drug busts without really understanding if the elements of the crimes charged can actually be proved in court. A savvy lawyer will know what to do to safeguard the client’s legal rights while focused on achieving the best possible result.
Source: 6abc.com, “15 indicted in Philadelphia/Camden drug ring bust“, Oct. 17, 2017
