The FBI and federal prosecutors on Friday introduced a “historic” indictment charging 33 alleged members of the Weymouth Avenue Drug Trafficking Group accused of fueling Kensington’s open-air drug marketplace for practically a decade.
Officers stated 24 defendants had been arrested in coordinated operations Friday, eight had been already in custody, and one stays at massive.
Authorities executed 11 federal search warrants, and outcomes are pending.
At a Philadelphia information convention, FBI Director Kash Patel known as the operation a mannequin for reclaiming violent corridors from crews, praising years of collaboration between the FBI, Philadelphia Police Division and the US Lawyer’s Workplace.
“Right this moment, much more criminals are off the streets due to the diligent work of the FBI and our companions,” FBI Director Kash Patel instructed Fox Information Digital in an unique assertion.
“Over 30 individuals have been charged for his or her alleged position in drug trafficking and dozens of different offenses. These people had been charged with distributing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine on probably the most prolific drug blocks in Philadelphia. They had been members of a violent drug trafficking group and used violence to implement their territory and promote medicine that poison our metropolis streets and neighborhood. The FBI will proceed our work to place an finish to drug trafficking and violence in our cities.”
“This takedown is the way you safeguard American cities from coast to coast,” Patel stated. “We now have completely eliminated a drug trafficking group off the streets of Philadelphia.”
US Lawyer David Metcalf stated the case facilities on the 3100 block of Weymouth Avenue in Kensington, a prolific stretch of the town’s open-air market. The indictment costs a conspiracy courting to January 2016 via October 2025 involving fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine.
“It’s an enormous drug-trafficking conspiracy spanning practically a decade, the biggest federal indictment this century introduced by our district,” Metcalf stated. “We focused it like a precision missile at Kensington’s epicenter.”
Metcalf stated 22 defendants had been arrested through the sweep, whereas eight already in native custody will probably be transferred to federal court docket subsequent week. Brokers have recovered dozens of firearms and important quantities of narcotics from alleged stash places; totals will probably be detailed in court docket filings.
Prosecutors stated the group was allegedly led by Jose Antonio Morales Nieves, 45, of Luquillo, Puerto Rico, often known as ‘Flaco,’ who “primarily owned” the block and charged hire to different sellers; Ramon Roman-Montanez, 40, of Philadelphia, often known as ‘Viejo,’ who managed every day operations and arranged shifts; and Nancy Rios-Valentin, 33, of Philadelphia, who additionally oversaw funds and shift schedules.
The crew allegedly used violence to implement its territory together with shootings, homicide and assaults and retaliated in opposition to witnesses who cooperated with legislation enforcement.
Throughout a Q&A, officers stated no substantive homicide or taking pictures counts have been filed however the investigation continues.
FBI Particular Agent in Cost Wayne Jacobs stated the operation used 9 tactical groups and concerned a whole lot of officers.
Most arrests occurred in Kensington, with others in Puerto Rico, Delaware and New Jersey.
“For too lengthy the Weymouth Avenue drug group flooded Kensington with medicine and terrorized residents with horrific acts of violence and intimidation,” Jacobs stated. “That ended in the present day.”
He stated the FBI will launch public-safety advertisements urging residents to share crime suggestions securely.
“Our job doesn’t finish with these arrests,” Jacobs added. “We are going to stay right here, standing with the individuals of Kensington.”
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel stated the case exhibits the town’s shift to treating open-air markets as an organized public-safety menace, not remoted avenue dealing.
“We’re not going to apologize for eradicating individuals who terrorize our neighborhood,” Bethel stated. “That is the mannequin we are able to maintain working.”
Officers framed the case as a part of PSN Recon, an offshoot of Mission Secure Neighborhoods that merges federal, state and native intelligence to focus on violent offenders block-by-block.
Metcalf stated the group meets month-to-month to establish essentially the most harmful actors and pursue organization-level prosecutions as a substitute of one-off gun or drug circumstances.
Deputy Lawyer Normal Todd Blanche added: “Drug traffickers who poison our communities and implement their territory via violence will face the total pressure of federal legislation. Working alongside our state and native companions, the Division of Justice will proceed to dismantle these felony networks and restore security to neighborhoods which have suffered for much too lengthy.”
Patel closed by thanking investigators and line prosecutors who constructed the case. “You want brave prosecutors to deliver these circumstances,” he stated. “That is precisely the way you safeguard American lives. The blocks belong to the residents, not the drug sellers.”
“For the criminals that stay on the market,” Metcalf warned, “the subsequent indictment has an area together with your identify on it.”
All defendants are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible and costs are allegations.
