More than 100 people were arrested and more than $365,000 worth of illegal drugs seized in southeastern Pennsylvania during a sweeping law enforcement operation designed to stem the tide of narcotics and firearms flowing out of the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia.
The coordinated two-month crackdown, dubbed “Operation Clean Sweep,” enlisted the joint efforts of the District Attorneys from Montgomery, Bucks and Delaware counties and a host of police agencies, culminating in a major disruption of trafficking pipelines into the surrounding suburbs.
Announced last week at a press conference in Norristown, Operation Clean Sweep represented a collaborative milestone for agencies facing the consequences of Philadelphia’s entrenched drug distribution network. “The Operation Clean Sweep collaboration will make communities safer with arrests of dozens of drug traffickers and seizures of firearms and deadly poisons that are not contained by municipal borders,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “I am proud of my staff and our partners who employed sophisticated investigative tactics to close major trafficking pipelines between Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.”
Throughout September and October, 327 targeted traffic stops intercepted bulk narcotics — including fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, oxycodone, and others — en route from Kensington into Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware counties. In total, authorities confiscated twelve illegal firearms, one of which was confirmed stolen. The arrests included not only suspected traffickers and dealers but also individuals with outstanding warrants. Of the 102 arrests made, 94 were related to drug charges, primarily possession with intent to deliver.
The influx of dangerous substances from Kensington has long plagued Pennsylvania’s suburban counties. “For too long, Philadelphia has been the epicenter for the supply of dangerous drugs, but we recognize that the counties surrounding Philadelphia; Montgomery, Bucks and Delaware counties—are also part of the problem,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele (D). “Drug traffickers and addicted individuals don’t recognize geographic, county boundaries…All of law enforcement worked hand-in-hand on this multi-faceted operation to interrupt that flow of illegal drugs and to hold people accountable.”
Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn (R) called the effort a “game changer in identifying drug dealers who are dealing poisons to our counties and into the literal hands of our loved ones.” She issued a sobering warning: “Those who are dealing and manufacturing these poisonous drugs should be on notice that together, we will identify you, we will prosecute you, and you will pay the price for what you are doing to our communities.”
While the operation’s primary focus was on enforcement, officials emphasized that simply arresting individuals is not enough to address the region’s drug crisis. Montgomery County’s DA office reported that in addition to criminal charges, officials worked with those battling addiction to connect them with appropriate help services, underscoring the ongoing need for a dual approach of interdiction and treatment.
Abington Police Chief Pat Molloy reflected on the importance of regional partnerships. “Every success in this fight brings us one step closer to saving lives,” Molloy said. “That’s why we’ll continue working together…we can’t simply arrest our way out of it — we must also focus on treatment and prevention.” He credited city and suburban law enforcement with fostering a united front against the opioid epidemic and improving the quality of life for families affected by drug-related crime.
Noticeably absent from the press conference was Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, whose jurisdiction is the source of the narcotics pipeline and whose policies, including bail reform, have garnered both criticism and praise. The absence was not officially explained, but it was the second time in as many weeks where his office was conspicuously absent from multiagency task force operations lauded by other local officials.
Operation Clean Sweep signals a ramped-up commitment by suburban law enforcement to combat narcotics trafficking, stop the flow of guns into their communities, and address the interconnected challenges stemming from Philadelphia’s drug trade. Officials said their next steps will balance aggressive prosecution with expanded access to addiction recovery services, aiming for long-term community safety.
