LANCASTER, Pa. — A pair of Lancaster brothers are charged with felony drug-dealing after searches uncovered over 300 bags of heroin.
Lancaster County Drug Task Force charged Jeffrey Hernandez and Jay L. Hernandez, both 24, after the July 8 searches.
Task Force detectives say the brothers are “mid-level” dealers who operated primarily in the city.
Dealers stamp heroin for product recognition, so buyers remember them and return for additional purchases.
Following an investigation that included surveillance, detectives obtained search warrants for Jeffrey Hernandez’s person and the brothers’ home in the 500 block of Zook Avenue.
Jeffrey Hernandez was located on Church Street with a 20-bundle brick of heroin, about 266 bags, and an additional 92 loose baggies of heroin in another pocket. (Jeffrey appears at left in the attached photo.)
Jay Hernandez was at the Zook Avenue home where detectives found another 140 bags of heroin.
Some of the bags were stashed inside a diversionary safe, which appeared to be a bottle of WD-40. Detectives also found drug-packaging supplies.
The investigation is ongoing.
District Judge Edward Tobin arraigned the brothers and set bail on the night of July 8.
Jeffrey Hernandez, charged with two sets of offenses due to the two searches, is at Lancaster County Prison on $550,00 bail.
Jay Hernandez is at Lancaster County Prison on $250,000 bail.
Source: Lancaster County District Attorney
