Police seize more than $100,000 in drugs in Easton and Bethlehem

More than $100,000 worth of cocaine and other drugs were seized by police Friday as part of an investigation in Easton and Bethlehem.

Easton police say five warrants were issued to search locations in the two cities after a five-month investigation that focused on an organization that allegedly sold large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl in Easton’s West Ward.

Jeffrie Morales, 33, was charged with four counts of delivery of a controlled substance — methamphetamine and cocaine — and criminal use of a communication device. He is also facing five other charges, including possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (MDMA), possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (cocaine), possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal conspiracy to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (cocaine).

He was arrested in an apartment located in the 1200 block of Simon Boulevard at the Silk Mill complex by Easton police.

Orestes Herrera Jr., 43, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance — fentanyl — and criminal use of a communication device. He is also charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (marijuana) and criminal conspiracy to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (cocaine).

He was arrested in an apartment in the 2600 block of Bethlehem Fields Way in Bethlehem.

Both men were arraigned Friday.

Three other search warrants were executed by Easton police at a business and two garages in the 1200 block of Washington Street. Additional evidence was recovered from the scene, police said.

The following items were recovered/seized after searching all five locations:

• $101,365 of cocaine (estimated street value)

• $20,000 of marijuana.

• $10,381 U.S. currency

• Two illegal handguns-one with an obliterated serial number and one with a device to make it fully automatic

• High-capacity magazines for the handguns

• Jewelry

• Drug paraphernalia

• 2017 BMW

• 2025 motorcycle

Prior to Friday’s raids, police said they seized large amounts of cocaine with an estimated street value of $66,000 and methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $7,500 during the investigation.

Taking part in the operation were the Easton Police Department Special Response Unit, Northampton County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Response Team, Pennsylvania State Police Vice and Northampton County Drug Task Force.