Meth and fentanyl ring busted in Berks County, officials say – NBC10 Philadelphia

Police in Berks County announced the arrest of three men who authorities say ran a “large-scale” drug ring and seized more than $1 million worth of drugs.

According to authorities, 28-year-old Selwyn Alcala-Garcia and 33-year-old Marcial Cooper, both of Reading, along with 47-year-old Rashan Brinkley of Laureldale were arrested following a raid on several homes and vehicles on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

The three men were arrested as part of “Operation Trapped,” which the authorities have dubbed “[d]The investigators carried out numerous undercover purchases and monitored them intensively in order to identify the accused and the hiding places.”

The operation began in April as a drug trafficking investigation in Reading, according to police officials. Following that investigation, officers executed search warrants on Thursday, September 12, 2024, for homes in the following areas: the 1400 block of Birch Street, the 1600 block of N. 10th Street, and the 600 block of Tulpehocken Street, all in Reading, as well as a home in the 500 block of Emerson Avenue in Laureldale.

In addition to these properties, police officers executed search warrants for eight vehicles associated with this alleged drug ring.

As a result of these searches, police officers said they found the following:

• Approximately 2.4 pounds of crack cocaine
• Approximately 3 kg of cocaine powder
• About 11 pounds of methamphetamine
• About 8 pounds of fentanyl
• A Mossberg MC2SC 9mm pistol with loaded magazine
• A Smith and Wesson M&P-15 with loaded magazine
• A Glock 31 Gen 4 .357 with loaded magazine
• Three extended 9mm magazines and a large ammunition supply

Authorities estimate the value of the seized drugs to be more than $1.2 million, they said Monday.

The three men were charged with drug possession, intent to traffic in drugs and related offenses.

Cooper was also accused of several weapons offenses.

All three men are in Berks County police custody and have been ordered held on $1 million bail.

The investigation is still ongoing, police said.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact Berks County Detectives at 610-478-7171.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Alert Berks County by either calling 877-373-9913, downloading the ALERTBERKS app on a mobile device, or texting “ALERTBERKS” along with a tip to 847411.