More than 60 people have been taken into custody and police are looking for more than 30 more people involved in a massive drug ring in York. Overall, more than 80 people have been or will be charged as part of Operation Sunrise. The drug 18- month drug sting includes two phases: the first is the 18- month investigation focusing on identifying targets, gathering intelligence and making controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine. Investigators also looked into how gang activity played a role in these activities. Police say suspects have affiliations with three street gangs including the Latin Kings, Bloods and Crips.
Phase 2 began Wednesday February 6, 2013. Police, swat teams, and even helicopters scoured city blocks arresting more than 60 people, with more than 30 still at large. They are charging more than 80 people in the alleged drug ring. “We do have people and connections here to other counties, and we’re following those up as well. What will we do in the future or what will we do to ensure these people don’t continue? Hopefully they’re going to get long prison sentences out of this, and they’re not going to be in this community for a while,” said Pennsylvania State Police Captain Steve Junkin.
At a press conference on Thursday York County District Attorney Tom Kearney said this is one of the largest busts in the area. “In my ten years as District Attorney this is the largest investigation sweep that we’ve had. I’m told it’s not the largest but it’s one of the largest. We got all levels of dealers. Both from the 15 to 20 dollar street corner guy to the fellow who is importing,” said DA Tom Kearney. “I want to stress that we got raw heroin, un-packaged heroin. That’s indicative of importing to us.”
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Investigators hope this cleans up the streets. “I suspect that there are a lot of people showing up in the emergency room today being sick, looking for their fix,” said Kearney.
“That’s the purpose of this thing. To try and help the regular citizens so they don’t have to look out their windows, have their kids covered all the time because of bullets,” said Junkin.
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