Series of raids leads to seizure of $1.2 million drug stash | Berks Regional News

READING, Pennsylvania – Berks County detectives said they seized more than $1 million worth of illegal narcotics in a series of recent drug raids.

According to authorities, the Berks County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force launched an investigation into a drug trafficking operation in the city of Reading in April of this year.

Investigators soon identified Selwyn Alcala-Garcia, Rashan Brinkley and Marcial Cooper as wholesalers of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Undercover investigators made numerous purchases and conducted surveillance to identify the defendants and the hiding places.

As a result of the investigation, sealed search warrants were obtained and served on September 12 at the following locations:

• 1400 block of Birch Street Reading, PA

• 1600 block of N. 10th Street Reading, PA

• 600 block of Tulpehocken Street Reading, PA

• 500 block of Emerson Avenue Laureldale, PA

Detectives also searched eight vehicles, five of which had sophisticated secret compartments.

During the searches, the following items were seized as evidence:

• Approximately 2.4 pounds of crack cocaine

• Approximately 3 kg of cocaine powder

• About 11 pounds of methamphetamine

• About 8 pounds of fentanyl

• Drug paraphernalia, including digital scales, cutting agents and packaging materials

• 1 Mossberg MC2SC 9mm pistol with loaded magazine

• 1 Smith and Wesson M&P-15 with loaded magazine

• 1 Glock 31 Gen 4 .357 with loaded magazine

• 3 extended 9mm magazines

• A large supply of ammunition

• Over $4,000 in US currency (presumably sales proceeds)

Authorities estimate the total street value of the seized illegal drugs to be more than $1.2 million.

All three defendants are charged with possession with intent to resell, possession of a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In addition, Marcial Cooper was charged with three counts of failure to possess firearms.

Bail was set at $1,000,000.00 for all three defendants and they are currently incarcerated in the Berks County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing.