A drug trafficking enterprise was neutralized in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Agents seized three shotguns, a handgun, more than $6,000 in cash, and more than $50,000 worth of substances including heroin and methamphetamine.
The operation was the result of a coordinated effort between Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office, McKeesport Police, and Elizabeth Township Police Department.
“Gun and drug trafficking is a dangerous and often violent enterprise,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “Thanks to our partnership with local law enforcement partners, these unsecured weapons could not be released into neighborhoods and communities to wreak havoc. We’re committed to stopping these trafficking operations wherever they’re found.”
Attorney General Josh Shapiro is in McKeesport this morning and has just announced the leader of a drug trafficking ring in the Mon Valley, has been arrested.
More than $50k dollars in drugs were seized as well as illegal weapons. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/VhVO1kSp1c
— Bryant Reed (@Reed_Reports) July 28, 2021
According to CBS Pittsburgh, a search warrant was executed at the home of 42-year-old Franklin Gribschaw and during that effort, $6,540 in cash, three shotguns, two AR-style rifles, a handgun, 461 grams of crystal methamphetamines, 59 grams of crack cocaine, 59 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of MDMA, 22 bricks of more than 3,000 doses of heroin, and drug paraphernalia was seized.
A strategic response
Attorney General Josh Shapiro held a news conference with McKeesport Police Chief Adam Alfer and Elizabeth Township Acting Police Chief Adam Blake to discuss the drug trafficking investigation.
“This guy had crystal meth in his house, with nine unsecured guns in his house and a little kid living there. A little kid had to live amongst all of this,” Shapiro said as reported by wtae.com
You can read: Drug distribution and human trafficking ring dismantled in Berks County
Gribschaw is being charged with possession with intent to deliver, delivery of a controlled substance, endangering the welfare of a child, possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal use of a communications facility.
Shapiro touted the work of a new strategic response team in his office’s narcotics bureau that was launched this month. Agents have already made 12 arrests and executed five search warrants while working with local police departments, he said.
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