READING, PA — Authorities say they’ve dismantled a major drug trafficking operation that brought cocaine and methamphetamine into Berks County through the U.S. Postal Service.
The Berks County District Attorney’s Office announced details of the nearly eight-month investigation during a press conference Friday, calling it “Operation Postal Storm.”
“The investigation revealed that kilogram quantities of cocaine were being shipped through the United States Postal Service from Puerto Rico to Berks County,” said Berks County District Attorney John Adams.
Investigators say packages were tracked as they moved through the mail system. Some were made to appear like birthday gifts.
“All this was inside the box along with the kilo, which you see at the end here,” said Lt. Nelson Ortiz of the Berks County Drug Task Force, holding up evidence during the briefing. “The kilo was wrapped in a happy birthday wrapping… they tried to mask the kilo as much as they possibly can.”
Authorities executed search warrants at multiple locations across the City of Reading, including homes, a tattoo parlor, and a car dealership.
“We recovered bulk quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, 12 firearms, and U.S. currency,” Adams added.
In total, 17 individuals have been arrested, including alleged ringleaders Kelvin Rodriguez Diaz, Edwin Martinez-Rodriguez, and Osvaldo Reyes Jimenez. Authorities say five additional suspects remain at large.
“Some of the other individuals who were charged were customers and were not charged with the amount of charges that those three individuals face,” Adams explained.