More than a dozen alleged drug dealers are now behind bars after an undercover operation in Allentown. Investigators call it “Operation Bloodhound” and they say it puts a major dent in drug traffic in the Lehigh Valley. WFMZ’s Eve Tannery joins us in the studio now with the very latest. Eve Tannery: Wendy and Jaciel… Investigators say many of the suspects have ties to New York and New Jersey. But, they were living in our area using Allentown as a major hub for selling drugs.; [ 6PM REPORT ] [ NEWS RELEASE ] [ PHOTOS OF ALLEGED DRUG RING MEMBERS (pdf) ] TANNERY: Investigators say they’re the faces behind a major drug trafficking ring that’s moved 5 million dollars worth of cocaine into the Valley over the last year. CORBETT: “The demand for drugs, coupled with high profit potential is the main reason these dealers move into Pennsylvania and spread their crime.” One of the key locations, police say The V-I-P Barber Shop in center city Allentown. It was raided yesterday. So far, investigators have seized 9 kilos of cocaine worth 1.1 million dollars, 53 pounds of marijuana, 10 guns, and at least one bullet proof vest. Shelton Brown allegedly ran the network. CORBETT: “Brown and a number of individuals he was associated with were members of the notorious Bloods street gang. Brown sold 3 or more kilos of cocaine per week.” Attorney General Corbett says wiretaps revealed that Brown’s customers were mainly located in Allentown. Corbett identified Thomas Woods, of Easton, as the ring’s mains supplier and more than a dozen others were arrested on charges, they, too, were involved in the ring. Two of them youth workers who we told you about last week…. Oni Chambers, who was a counselor at Kids Peace. Hasshan Batts, who worked for Northwestern Human Services. All in all, investigators say what they recovered in “Operation Bloodhound” was a recipe for violence. CORBETT: “The amount of weapons and drugs seized as part of this investigation clearly demonstrates how dangerous this drug organization was.” And this isn’t the end of “Operation Bloodhound.” Attorney General Corbett says there will likely be more arrests.
