More than eight pounds
of heroin seized in drug bust

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

A Castor Gardens house was at the center of what veteran Philadelphia narcotics police are calling their largest-ever heroin bust last week.
Investigators recovered almost 8.5 pounds of the drug with a street value of about $1.4 million during raids of four residences and searches of two vehicles on Oct. 10, said Capt. Chris Werner, commander of the Narcotics Field Unit.
Police allegedly found most of the heroin in the walls of a home at 7158 Bustleton Ave.
"That’s astronomical in terms of heroin seizures because heroin has a much greater street value than (other drugs)," Werner said. "I’ve never seen that much heroin since I’ve been in narcotics."
Two men were arrested in connection with the month-long investigation into heroin sales in the Lower Northeast, North Philadelphia and Kensington sections of the city.
Juan Severino, 29, of the 5200 block of Montour St., and Robert Rosario, 35, of the 600 block of Brill St., were charged with drug possession, possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy and weapons offenses.
According to Officer Brian Myers, who led the investigation with Officer Rich Woertz, undercover cops made a series of controlled purchases from the suspects over several weeks. They arrested Severino and Rosario on the afternoon of Oct. 10, during one such pre-arranged deal.
The men allegedly drove a Honda Accord to the scene. When police searched the vehicle, they found packages of heroin and a loaded .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun hidden inside a motorized compartment in one of the doors, Myers said.
A Plymouth Voyager also used by the suspects had a similar motorized hidden compartment, the officer said.
While the Bustleton Avenue house allegedly was the primary stash location, a residence at 230 W. Sheldon St. in Olney was the main packaging location, Myers said. Police also raided Severino’s home and a site on the 3800 block of "J" St. in Juniata Park.
Three of the four homes had storage compartments hidden in the walls. The suspects could open and close the compartments using battery-powered panels that Werner compared to power windows in a car.
Drug-sniffing police dogs helped officers locate the hidden contraband. Some of the drugs were in bulk, while some had been cut into smaller quantities for street-level sales.
Investigators allegedly also found packaging materials and logo stamps at the Bustleton Avenue site.
Investigators claim that Severino and Rosario supplied a series of street-level dealers with prepackaged heroin.
They believe that the defendants acquired bulk heroin from undisclosed suppliers in the New York area. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com