Drug agents seize cocaine,
collar 7 suspects

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

Philadelphia narcotics officers arrested seven people while allegedly seizing almost a million dollars worth of cocaine from a Lower Northeast rowhouse last week.
Police executed a search warrant at 5162 "F" St., just north of Roosevelt Boulevard, at about 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 3, said Sgt. Robert Friel of the narcotics field unit. Inside a hidden compartment in the basement, they allegedly found eight 1-kilogram bricks of cocaine, as well as almost two kilos that had been cut into quarter-pound quantities.
A quarter-pound equals 112.5 grams.
Friel described two residents of the home as central figures in the investigation. Giovanni Rosario, 26, and Juan Matos, 39, were arrested on charges of drug possession, possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy.
Investigators led by Officer Jim Cullen targeted the house after receiving a tip from an undisclosed source about alleged drug activity there. The narcotics officers placed the house under surveillance.
They allegedly saw two other men leave the residence in a vehicle. When officers stopped the car, they allegedly found $86,000 in cash. They later obtained a search warrant for the house.
The occupants of the house stashed the drugs behind a motorized false wall inside a basement closet, Friel said. Banging on the wall triggered a switch that would activate the mechanism and open the compartment.
In addition to the cocaine, investigators allegedly seized five grams of heroin, additional cash and drug paraphernalia, including scales, logo stamps, grinders and packaging materials, Friel said. In all, the investigation netted nearly $1.1 million in contraband and cash.
Police believe that the two lead suspects distributed large quantities of drugs to mid-level dealers, who would distribute them in the Northeast and East police divisions. There is evidence that the men had been in operation for at least four years, Friel said. Investigators think the men obtained the cocaine in bulk outside of the city and transported it here.
Others arrested include Bhybi Montillo, 27, of the 600 block of W. Bristol St.; Nisio Ramos, 32, of the 4000 block of Ormont St.; Esteban Pacheco, 27, of the 4500 block of Rising Sun Ave.; Raphael Melendez, 26, of the 2900 block of Ruth St.; and Juan Creres, 42, of the 1300 block of Friendship St. All were charged with the same offenses as Rosario and Matos.
Capt. Chris Werner and Lt. Mike Mitchell supervised the investigation, Friel said. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com