Four men have been arrested by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office for allegedly trafficking millions of dollars worth of cocaine and methamphetamine from California to Pennsylvania.
During a press conference, District Attorney Jen Schorn identified the individuals involved in the “Byrne Drug Trafficking Organization” as Matthew James Byrne (43) from Broomall, Joseph Byrne (47) from Levittown, Khalik Kemp (34) from Philadelphia, and Christian Garwood (55) from Flourtown.
Police report that Matthew Byrne and his group were in charge of shipping over $5 million worth of narcotics across the country.
According to investigators, the drugs were concealed using items such as speakers during shipment through the postal service.
According to Schorn’s statement on Wednesday, the drug trafficking group concealed around 25 to 30 pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine in large karaoke style Bluetooth speakers for each shipment.
According to investigators, Matthew Byrne has been making bi-monthly trips to Southern California since January, where he spends two to three days purchasing cocaine and methamphetamine from drug brokers with ties to Mexico.
According to reports, he reportedly sent the drugs to two different locations: his brother’s residence on Gable Hill Road in Bristol, Bucks County, and another home in Flourtown, Montgomery County.
According to Schorn, the shipments will be received by their counterparts in Bucks and Montgomery counties and later be prepared for distribution to individuals in the community.
Throughout the investigation, authorities were able to seize three shipments that had been caught at a United States Postal Service location in Louisville, Kentucky.
Officials reported the discovery of drugs valued at almost $1.2 million concealed within speakers.
According to investigators, they were able to trace 12 shipments to several locations in Bristol Township and Montgomery County. These shipments were believed to contain drugs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the intention of being sold on the streets.
Schorn stated that there is a clear connection between the distribution of drugs in Bucks County and Montgomery County and their availability to users. He believes that the drugs were being prepared for distribution and then quickly making their way into the hands of users.
The accused, who are all Pennsylvania residents, were charged on Monday with multiple counts, which include corrupt organizations and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Charges were also brought against Ralph Brooks, aged 42 and hailing from Los Angeles, as well as Chaz Harness-Walker, aged 40 and residing in Inglewood, California.
As of now, they remain unarrested.
Investigators from various state, local, and federal authorities are collaborating to conduct a thorough investigation into the operation. The investigation is still ongoing as they strive to determine the extent of the operation.
According to Spiros Karabinas, the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Philadelphia, the investigation’s outcome serves as a clear reminder to criminals that drug enforcement remains a top priority.
Karabinas made a strong commitment to preventing the trafficking, distribution, and sale of illegal items in our communities. He emphasized that they will continue to pursue this goal with great effort.
The bail set for the four defendants from Pennsylvania was between $1 million to $5 million, and they were subsequently committed to the Bucks County Correctional Facility.
