Pubdate: Sat, 16 Jul 2005
Source: Centre Daily Times (PA)
Copyright: 2005 Nittany Printing and Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact:  http://www.centredaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/74
Author: Erin L. Nissley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

FIFTY FACE CHARGES IN DRUG SWEEP

ALTOONA -- Fifty people are facing drug charges for allegedly selling
heroin, crack cocaine and other drugs to undercover officers in Blair
County, authorities said Friday.

Twenty-six people were arrested Friday, according to a spokeswoman at
the Pennsylvania attorney general's office. Warrants were filed for
another 24 people.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett said the arrests came after
a five-month investigation into drug dealing in Altoona and Tyrone.
Blair County's Drug Task Force and the state attorney general's Bureau
of Narcotics Investigation investigated the cases.

Thirty of the alleged dealers are accused of selling heroin, 10 were
accused of selling crack cocaine, four were charged with selling
marijuana, and two were charged with selling prescription drugs.
Corbett said more than 100 drug buys were done by undercover officers
and agents during the investigation.

In a separate but related investigation, seven alleged heroin dealers
were arrested Monday. Corbett said heroin dealers from New York were
trying to build distribution networks in Blair County. Officers
allegedly seized about $25,000 worth of heroin from the suspects
during the investigations.
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