BERLIN — Another battle was won in the larger war against the growing heroin epidemic across Delmarva when allied law enforcement agencies in Delaware this week made one of the largest seizures of the insidious drugs in state history.
While law enforcement officials in Worcester County last Wednesday were announcing the results of Operation Street Sweeper, a months-long multi-agency operation that resulted in dozens of arrests from mid- to upper-level dealers down to the street level, allied agencies in Delaware were putting the wraps on their own two-year investigation that resulted the largest heroin busts in state history.
Last Wednesday, 13 agencies including the Delaware State Police Sussex Drug Unit, the Division of Gaming Enforcement and the Delaware State’s Attorney’s office completed the two-year Operation Duck Hunt, a multi-agency investigation of a criminal organization engaged in money laundering and large-scale heroin distribution.
The investigation revealed Deangelo McGlotten, 31, of Felton, was the ring leader for the heroin distribution in Sussex and Kent Counties, along with his closest associates, Timothy Felix, 30, of Dover, and Adrian Coverdale, 34, of Blades. In addition to the heroin distribution network, the investigation revealed the illegal proceeds from the drug organization were being laundered by Salman Choudhary, 37, of Georgetown, through casinos, businesses and other personal properties. A total of 11 suspects were indicted by the Sussex County grand jury as part of the investigation.
The size and scope of the Operation Duck Hunt in Delaware last week was significant when coupled with the successful Operation Street Sweeper in Worcester last week. Heroin distribution knows no state boundaries and the two operations put a serious dent in the growing heroin epidemic across the lower shore.
Last Wednesday, search and seizure warrants were executed at seven locations around Sussex County resulting in one of the largest heroin seizures in state history. The seizure in Sussex County netted 74,000 bags of heroin with a street value of $740,000. The total heroin seizure during Operation Duck Hunt was 116,675 bags, or roughly 1,749 grams, with a treat value of nearly $1.7 million.
Also seized during the raids across lower Delaware last week was $200,000 in cash and other assets from numerous accounts, $50,000 in jewelry, four handguns, a carbine rifle and 23 vehicles with a total estimated value of $250,000. Last week’s operation in Sussex came on the heels of a similar search and seizure carried out at McGlotten’s residence in Bridgeville in January.
During that operation, over 42,000 bags of heroin were seized along with a stolen handgun and a rifle. The total heroin seizure for the entire Operation Duck Hunt included 116,675 bags of heroin, or roughly 1,749 grams, with an estimated street value of nearly $1.7 million.
In addition to ringleaders McGlotten, Felix and Coverdale, along with money-launderer Choudhray, two others were indicted in the operation and are in custody including Patrick Cirwithian, 30, of Greenwood; Tina Mosley, 51, of Greenwood. Two other suspects were charged and arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court including Daniel Montavaldo-Rosado, 29, and Christian Cortes, 27, both of Wilmington.
Five other suspect were indicted by the Sussex County grand jury but had not yet been located as of mid-week including Linda McGlotten, 49, of Milford; Reginald McGlotten, 30, of Millsboro; Obrien Morris, 26, of Millsboro; Luis Manzanet-Garlaza, 27, of Milford; Sohail Zeeshan, 39, of Rehoboth.
“Heroin is a serious, serious problem in Delaware right now and all of law enforcement is working together to combat it,” said Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn. “This operation puts a significant dent in the heroin traffic in the southern part of the state and is another example of how the close working relationship between our office and Delaware State Police, as well as other agencies, can make a difference and make Delaware a safer place.”
The Delaware State Police took the lead on the investigation and were joined by over a dozen allied state and federal law enforcement agencies. DSP Superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen, Jr. said the successful Operation Duck Hunt took a large bite out of heroin distribution in Delaware and across Delmarva.
“This investigation targeted a criminal organization responsible for large scale heroin distribution and money laundering in Kent and Sussex County,” said Delaware State Police Superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen, Jr. “The presence of drugs and drug dealers in our communities invariably leads to an increase in crimes such as robberies and thefts and has a significant impact on the health and safety of our communities. The success of this drug investigation would not have been realized if it were not for the cooperation between all of the agencies involved. The large amount of drugs seized and the drug traffickers that were arrested would have continued to plague our communities.”