An investigation into street-corner heroin dealers in North Philadelphia led police to a twin home on a typically peaceful block in Burholme last week. There, officers arrested two men and allegedly seized heroin worth almost a half-million dollars.
The raid occurred Oct. 19 at 842 Disston St. in a non-descript brick two-story twin house used by Dominican-affiliated drug suppliers as a stash house and packaging facility, according to Sgt. Robert Friel of the Narcotics Field Unit-North.
“It was like they use a residential place in the Northeast to do their packaging because it doesn’t tip off the cops,” Friel said. “They like to do it out of the way. We got no complaints (from neighbors) on the house, but our investigation led us there.”
While conducting surveillance on the house on Oct. 19, officers saw a man exit the property. They stopped him in the street for questioning and allegedly found 30 baggies of bulk heroin totaling 630 grams on him.
He was later identified as Domingo Reyes, 45, of the 1400 block of Castor Ave.
While officers were questioning Reyes, a second man allegedly exited the house. Officers detained him and later identified him as Robero Garcia, 27. Garcia identified 842 Disston St. as his home address.
After securing a search warrant, police entered the house at about 6:40 p.m. and found an additional 25 baggies of bulk heroin totaling about 549 grams, as well as 2,970 small-quantity packets stamped with various labels and totaling about 89 grams.
The drugs have a combined street value of about $418,000, Friel said.
Police also seized grinders, packaging materials, scales and stamping materials from the house. The place had no furniture on the first floor and a packaging room on the second floor, Friel said.
Reyes and Garcia were charged with drug distribution, drug possession, drug paraphernalia possession and conspiracy.
Officers Brian Myers and Jaime Brown of the Narcotics Field Unit-North conducted the investigation. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215–354–3031 or wkenny@bsmphilly.com
