12 Jun 9 alleged drug dealers arrested for heroin related charges

On behalf of Jack B. Rubin, PA posted in Drug Charges on Thursday, June 12, 2014.

After a seven-month undercover operation, nine people were arrested and accused of being drug dealers. Multiple Maryland police departments supposedly cooperated in the operation in Annapolis after heroin overdoses started to rise throughout the state. The nine suspects were all arrested under numerous drug charges of varying degrees.

The investigation reportedly began in Oct. 2013 after there was a spike in heroin related deaths. The authorities believe that the rise in heroin use has been related to the cost — one oxycodone pill is said to cost $85, but one hit of heroin is only $13. The investigators supposedly determined that two separate groups were responsible for most of the heroin dealt in Annapolis.

The authorities decided to set up a series of controlled buys in order to determine potential suspects. They allegedly made more than 50 controlled purchases of heroin, resulting in the seizure of over 100 grams (approximately 3.5 ounces) of the drug. Nine people were arrested and accused of being heroin dealers. In addition to the nine suspected dealers, the police also made four additional collateral arrests. Three of those individuals were minors.

Any case with multiple suspects who are supposedly linked to similar crimes requires a close examination of the evidence by the respective defense teams. With large operations such as this one, it can sometimes be difficult for Maryland prosecutors to link certain evidence with each specific accused individual’s heroin related charges, which could greatly affect the case. Regardless of the pending charges, each person accused of a crime remains innocent before the court and cannot be convicted unless the prosecution is ultimately able to meet the exacting measure of proof that is required in every criminal case.

Source: wbaltv.com, “Police: 9 heroin dealers in Annapolis indicted“, Saliqa Khan, May 27, 2014