{"id":286109,"date":"2026-09-14T23:56:37","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T23:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/286109\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T23:56:37","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T23:56:37","slug":"12-people-charged-after-pennsylvania-drug-trafficking-ring-bust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/286109\/","title":{"rendered":"12 people charged after Pennsylvania drug trafficking ring bust"},"content":{"rendered":"

12 people charged after statewide drug trafficking ring bust in Pennsylvania<\/p>\n

\"Ed<\/a>NORTH HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP, Pa. \u2014<\/p>\n

A dozen people each face criminal charges in connection with a statewide drug trafficking operation. The group allegedly sold thousands of illegal products that were highly potent with marijuana, THC and Delta, and profited over $18 million.<\/p>\n

On Monday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday detailed the investigation that lasted between two to three years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was a massive, illegal drug trafficking operation that put profits over the protection of people, and most importantly, targeted our children,\u201d Sunday said. \u201cI\u2019m fully aware that some may look at this and say, ‘What\u2019s the big deal? It\u2019s just marijuana.’ That couldn\u2019t be further from reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Image\"Image<\/p>\n

The people charged are listed below: <\/p>\n

Albina Kumar Duttkumar Patel Dharmeshkumar Patel Madhav Patel Nirav Patel Palak Patel Divyesh Patel Ketankumar Patel Niravkumar Vora Roshniben Patel Ankitkumar Patel Mitul Patel<\/p>\n

Officials wouldn\u2019t confirm if the suspects are or are not related. A few of them have bonded out but are due back in court on Sept. 23. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey are charged with corrupt organizations and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities,\u201d Sunday said. \u201cMoney laundering as well. They went to great lengths to conceal the sources of the millions of dollars they profited from. They transferred that money from bank to bank using various LLCs as fronts.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"Image\"Image<\/p>\n

Sunday said reports of Westmoreland County school children taking these products ramped up the state\u2019s efforts. <\/p>\n

\u201cKids were found to have these types of products in their schools,\u201d Sunday said. \u201cIn one instance, a babysitter bought what she thought was a sweet treat for the child she was watching. The child ate it and later became unresponsive and rushed to the hospital. It was determined to be THC poisoning.\u201d <\/p>\n

The tipping point was pulling over one of the accused traffickers. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe driver of that vehicle, who is charged, was hauling loads of THC products to these stores,\u201d Sunday said. <\/p>\n

That led officials to find nearly 150,000 items in warehouses in Bucks, Luzerne and Allegheny County. The Allegheny warehouse was found in Plum. <\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

WTAE<\/p>\n

Items seized from warehouses<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

The Westmoreland County District Attorney\u2019s office was one of many law enforcement agencies that seized illegal products from local vape shops and gas stations.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far, over 90% of the materials tested have been found to be an illegal substance,\u201d Sunday said. \u201cProducts today often contain anywhere from 29-31% THC.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the first warning,\u201d Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said. \u201cA first warning to say, in Westmoreland County, we adhere to the law. We are coming after what you are doing to our children and how you are poisoning our youth. Investigations take time, but we are onto you and we are coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

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