Drug Bust Yields $1.7 Million In Crystal Meth
Police Believe Suspect Was About To Start Drug Production Lab
POSTED: 6:06 p.m. EST January 11, 2005
UPDATED: 6:06 p.m. EST January 11, 2005
Story by nbc10.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia police made one of the biggest drug busts in city history Tuesday.
Investigators arrested one man and confiscated more than $1 million in drugs. An anonymous tip led police to the arrest. Sources told NBC 10 News that the suspect has ties to a major drug organization and that this arrest could be just the tip of the iceberg. Police would not confirm that information.
"I'm really shocked. I'm just happy they got it out of here," said Valerie Martinez.
Martinez is glad to have roughly 37 pounds of methamphetamine -- better known as crystal meth -- out of her neighborhood.
Police said the drugs were found in the basement of her neighbor's row house after police raided it early Tuesday morning.
Boyd Cramer, 44, was arrested and charged with several drug-related offenses.
"They were screaming in front of the door. There must have been at least 20 police officers and they banged down the door," Martinez said.
Police used drug-sniffing dogs to find the crystal meth, which they say was stashed in two safes that were buried under a washing machine in the basement floor.
Police also confiscated drug manufacturing material, cash, five cars and two Harley Davidson motorcycles
Authorities believe that Cramer was about to set up labs to produce meth and marijuana.
"We're not just into going after the street corner drugs sales anymore, we're going after organizations, major drug dealers, " said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson.
The confiscated drugs have a value of $1.7 million. That is one reason why authorities were shocked to find a welfare card in the raid.
"While he was manufacturing drugs he appears, also, to be collecting public welfare," said District Attorney Lynne Abraham. Cramer has been charged with five different offenses.
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Didnt someone from the PA crew say meth is not a problem in PA?