Berks County police have arrested three individuals who allegedly ran a ‘large-scale’ drug trafficking operation and recovered more than $1 million in cocaine.
According to officials, Selwyn Alcala-Garcia, 28, and Marcial Cooper, 33, both of Reading, as well as Rashan Brinkley, 47, of Laureldale, were arrested following a raid on a number of houses and cars on Thursday, September 12, 2024.
The three guys were caught as part of what investigators named “Operation Trapped,” in which “[d]etectives made numerous undercover purchases in conjunction with intensive surveillance to identify the defendants and stash locations.”
According to police, the operation began in April as a narcotics trafficking probe in Reading. Following this investigation, on Thursday, September 12, 2024, officials executed search warrants on homes in Reading’s 1400 block of Birch Street, 1600 block of N. 10th Street, and 600 block of Tulpehocken Street, as well as a home on Laureldale’s 500 block of Emerson Avenue.
Along with these properties, police officers executed search warrants on eight vehicles linked to the accused drug trafficking network.
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According to police officials, these searches yielded the following:
- Approximately 2.4 pounds of crack cocaine
- Approximately 6.75 pounds of powdered cocaine
- Approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine
- Approximately 8 pounds of fentanyl
- A Mossberg MC2SC 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine
- A Smith and Wesson M&P-15 with a loaded magazine
- A Glock 31 Gen 4 .357 with a loaded magazine
- Three extended 9mm magazines and a large stock of ammunition
Authorities stated on Monday that they estimate the worth of the narcotics confiscated to be more than $1.2 million.
Drug possession, intent to deliver, and related charges have been levied against the three guys.
Cooper was additionally accused of multiple charges involving weapons.
The three males have all been held in Berks County prison on $1 million bail each.
Call the Berks County Detectives at 610-478-7171 if you know anything else about this case.
