HARRISBURG, PA – In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Attorney General Michelle Henry and the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of 17 individuals implicated in a major cocaine trafficking operation in Philadelphia. The arrests, made this week, followed a detailed investigation conducted by the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations alongside the FBI.
Vincent Lofton, 60, identified as a key figure in the trafficking network, was among those arrested in a series of operations carried out in Philadelphia and its surrounding areas on Tuesday. Following his arraignment on Wednesday, Lofton’s bail was set at $1 million.
The coordinated law enforcement effort also led to the execution of numerous search warrants at residences, vehicles, and a financial institution. Attorney General Henry highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in dismantling what she described as a “sophisticated, upper-level trafficking ring” responsible for distributing large quantities of narcotics within the state.
The operation saw the seizure of 15 firearms, including 10 handguns and 5 long guns, nearly 10 pounds of powder and crack cocaine, 33 pounds of marijuana, additional narcotics and paraphernalia, cutting agents, and $65,630 in cash.
FBI Philadelphia’s Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs commended the cooperative effort, emphasizing the operation’s role in disrupting drug trafficking organizations and making the community safer.
The arrested individuals, including Lofton, Jose Escobedo, Tamika Leggett, Haneefah Gladden, Charressa Hopkins, Shanice Lofton, Kiyon Dennis, Bruce Rozier, Shawn Grady, Victor Christmas, Robert Nelson, Phillip Jackson, Nymir Brown, Steven Pittman, Dante Primo, Philip Curtis, and Anthony Jones, face charges related to drug trafficking, illegal firearms possession, and other offenses.