Drug trafficking suspects had vehicles with sophisticated hidden compartments: Berks County District Attorney says

READING, Pa. (WPVI) — Over a million dollars worth of drugs were seized and three men were arrested following investigations into suspected drug trafficking.

The Berks County District Attorney's Office said the investigation, dubbed “Operation Trapped,” targeted the drug ring based in Reading, Pennsylvania.

After an investigation lasting about eight months, search warrants were issued at the end of last week.

Three homes in Reading and one in Laureldale as well as eight vehicles were searched.

“There were several undercover buyers involved in this investigation. There was a lot of surveillance,” said Berks County District Attorney John Adams.

At least five of these vehicles have “sophisticated secret compartments” or “traps,” as the prosecutor called them.

According to Adams, accessing the compartments was not as easy as pressing a button.

“A combination of things has to happen, like turning on the windshield wipers or turning on a signal that allows the secret compartments to be opened, which are often hydraulically controlled,” Adams said.

Adams added that investigators have not yet completed searching all eight seized vehicles.

“The investigation is ongoing. There may be other compartments in these vehicles that we have not yet identified. Our search in these vehicles continues,” he said.

Authorities seized 2.4 pounds of crack cocaine, more than six pounds of powder cocaine, about 11 pounds of methamphetamine and about eight pounds of fentanyl.

According to prosecutors, the street value of the drugs is $1.2 million.

Also seized as evidence were several loaded weapons and a “large supply” of ammunition as well as $4,000 in cash.

The suspects were identified as 28-year-old Selwyn Alcala-Garcia and 33-year-old Marcial Cooper, both of Reading, and 47-year-old Rashawn Brinkley of Laureldale.

All three suspects are being held on $1 million bail.