32 arrested in statewide meth operation between Philadelphia, Blair counties

ALTOONA, Pa. (WJAC) — Attorney General Josh Shapiro says a year-long investigation has resulted in the arrests of 32 people and the largest ever seizure of meth destined for Blair County.

Shapiro, joined by Blair County District Attorney Rich Consiglio and Altoona Police Department Chief Janice Freehling, made the announcement Thursday in a press conference held at the Blair County Courthouse.

Shapiro says wiretapping and a year-long grand jury investigation into a meth trafficking operation between Philadelphia and Blair counties led to the arrests of 17 people including Philadelphia’s sources of meth and Blair County’s upper and mid-level dealers.

Authorities say that in addition to the 17 arrested, further investigation led to 15 more people being arrested in connection to the larger drug operation.

Over just one week in October, authorities say they seized about 12,000 doses of meth totaling over $300,000 which is the largest seizure of methamphetamine destined for Blair County in the county’s history, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

In one year alone, the meth operation trafficked 94,000 doses, authorities say.

“Blair County and much of rural Pennsylvania is suffering under the drug crisis being fueled by organizations like those taken down today,” says Shapiro. “These individuals sold thousands of dollars in addictive, life-altering drugs, sometimes in the presence of children. They did not consider how their actions would ravage the lives of their loved ones, their neighborhoods, communities like Altoona, Hollidaysburg and East Freedom, and families all across Pennsylvania.”

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, Altoona Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, State College Police Department, Patton Township Police Department, Ferguson Township Police Department and Logan Township Police Department were involved in the investigation.

You can read the full grand jury investigation here.

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