READING, Pa. - Detectives in Reading have charged three more individuals in connection with "Operation SmackDown," which resulted in the arrest of more than two dozen people involved a drug ring operation.
Charges were brought against Nelfi Castro-Gonzalez, 28, of Bronx N.Y., Roberto Mendez-Rodriguez, 48, of Reading and Robert Melendez-Jiminez, 23, of Bronx, according to Berks County District Attorney John Adams.
The trio have been charged with Possession, Possession with the Intent to Deliver, Delivery, Conspiracy and other related charges.
Law enforcement agencies from New York and Pennsylvania, served search warrants on several locations that were identified as the “Heroin Mills” which were the source of the supply. Three locations were in the Bronx, NY and one in the City of Reading, Adams said in a release Tuesday.
Large quantities of heroin/fentanyl, cocaine, packaging material, drug paraphernalia associated with distribution and money believed to be proceeds from drug sales were seized, authorities said.
The combined street values of the controlled substances seized were estimated at over $4 million, the release said.
Castro-Gonzalez and Mendez-Rodriguez were arrested. Melendez-Jiminez is still at large, according to the release.
Castro-Gonzalez is currently being detained at Rikers Island Housing Facility awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.
Mendez-Rodriguez is currently being detained at Berks County Jail Systems. His bail was set at $2,000,000
