PITTSTON TWP., LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — A warehouse in Pittston Township is linked to a statewide drug-trafficking investigation that led to charges against 12 people accused of distributing high-potency THC products through convenience stores and vape shops, authorities said.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office announced the charges Monday, saying investigators traced about $18.7 million in alleged illegal proceeds and seized roughly 150,000 items from warehouses in Pittston Township, Plum Borough and Bensalem.
Investigators searched a warehouse at 159 Center Point Blvd. in the Center Point Commons industrial district in 2025, according to a statewide grand jury indictment. The indictment alleges 14 pallets of illegal products were seized there.
Authorities said the organization moved marijuana and high-level THC products from warehouses to retail stores across Pennsylvania. Some products were packaged in candy-style bags and marketed in ways investigators said were designed to appeal to children.
The indictment alleges Nirav Patel and Madhav Patel operated the Luzerne County warehouse. Both are among the 12 defendants charged in the case.
The other defendants are Albina Kumar, Duttkumar Patel, Dharmeshkumar Patel, Palak Patel, Divyesh Patel, Ketankumar Patel, Niravkumar Vora, Roshniben Patel, Ankitkumar Patel and Mitul Patel.
All 12 defendants have been arraigned on charges that include corrupt organizations, dealing in proceeds of illegal activity and drug-trafficking offenses, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
The Luzerne and Lackawanna County district attorneys’ offices, along with Jenkins Township and Moosic police, assisted in the investigation.
The charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.