Pot times July 17, 2005

Fifty Face Charges In Drug Sweep

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1124/a04.html
Newshawk: Herb

Pubdate: Sat, 16 Jul 2005
Source: Centre Daily Times (PA)
Copyright: 2005 Nittany Printing and Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact: cdtletters@centredaily.com
Website: http://www.centredaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/74
Author: Erin L. Nissley
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FIFTY FACE CHARGES IN DRUG SWEEP

ALTOONA -- Fifty people are facing drug charges for allegedly selling heroin, crack cocaine and other drugs to undercover officers in Blair County, authorities said Friday.

Twenty-six people were arrested Friday, according to a spokeswoman at the Pennsylvania attorney general's office.  Warrants were filed for another 24 people.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett said the arrests came after a five-month investigation into drug dealing in Altoona and Tyrone.  Blair County's Drug Task Force and the state attorney general's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation investigated the cases.

Thirty of the alleged dealers are accused of selling heroin, 10 were accused of selling crack cocaine, four were charged with selling marijuana, and two were charged with selling prescription drugs.  Corbett said more than 100 drug buys were done by undercover officers and agents during the investigation.

In a separate but related investigation, seven alleged heroin dealers were arrested Monday.  Corbett said heroin dealers from New York were trying to build distribution networks in Blair County.  Officers allegedly seized about $25,000 worth of heroin from the suspects during the investigations.