The FBI and federal prosecutors announced Friday the indictment of 33 alleged members of the Weymouth Street Drug Trafficking Organization, accused of running one of Philadelphia’s most active drug markets for nearly a decade.

Federal officials said 24 defendants were arrested during coordinated operations Friday, eight were already in custody, and one remains at large.

Agents executed 11 federal search warrants, with additional results expected in court filings.

The citizens of Philadelphia deserve safe and secure streets.
The Kensington drug market has plagued the city for far too long. Those days are OVER.
When President Trump told us to “go get em,” he wasn’t kidding. And neither were we. https://t.co/E5BMA78Krh

— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) October 24, 2025

At a press conference in Philadelphia, FBI Director Kash Patel described the operation as a model for reclaiming violent neighborhoods through sustained law enforcement cooperation.

Patel credited years of collaboration between the FBI, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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“Today, even more criminals are off the streets because of the diligent work of the FBI and our partners,” Patel told Fox News Digital.

“Over 30 people have been charged for their alleged role in drug trafficking and dozens of other offenses. These individuals were charged with distributing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine on one of the most prolific drug blocks in Philadelphia. They were members of a violent drug trafficking organization and used violence to enforce their territory and sell drugs that poison our city streets and community. The FBI will continue our work to put an end to drug trafficking and violence in our cities.”

“This takedown is how you safeguard American cities from coast to coast,” Patel said.

“We have permanently removed a drug trafficking organization off the streets of Philadelphia.”

U.S. Attorney David Metcalf said the case focuses on the 3100 block of Weymouth Street in Kensington, a central hub of the city’s open-air drug market.

The indictment charges a conspiracy spanning January 2016 through October 2025, involving the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and cocaine.

“It’s a massive drug-trafficking conspiracy spanning nearly a decade, the largest federal indictment this century brought by our district,” Metcalf said.

“We targeted it like a precision missile at Kensington’s epicenter.”

Metcalf confirmed that 22 defendants were arrested in Friday’s sweep, while eight others already in local custody will be transferred to federal court next week.

Agents recovered dozens of firearms and significant quantities of narcotics from multiple alleged stash sites, with detailed totals to be presented in upcoming filings.

Prosecutors identified the organization’s alleged leaders as Jose Antonio Morales Nieves, 45, of Luquillo, Puerto Rico, known as “Flaco,” who “essentially owned” the block and charged rent to other dealers; Ramon Roman-Montanez, 40, of Philadelphia, known as “Viejo,” who directed daily operations and managed shifts; and Nancy Rios-Valentin, 33, of Philadelphia, who oversaw finances and scheduling.

Authorities said the crew allegedly used violence, including shootings, assaults, and intimidation tactics, to maintain control of their territory and retaliate against witnesses.

Officials noted that no formal murder or shooting charges have yet been filed, though the investigation remains ongoing.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs said the operation involved nine tactical teams and hundreds of officers across multiple states.

Most arrests took place in Kensington, with others in Puerto Rico, Delaware, and New Jersey.

“For too long the Weymouth Street drug organization flooded Kensington with drugs and terrorized residents with horrific acts of violence and intimidation,” Jacobs said. “That ended today.”

Jacobs added that the FBI will launch new public-safety initiatives encouraging residents to report criminal activity securely.

“Our job doesn’t end with these arrests,” he said.

“We will remain here, standing with the people of Kensington.”

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the takedown reflects the department’s ongoing strategy to dismantle organized crime in open-air drug markets.

“We’re not going to apologize for removing people who terrorize our community,” Bethel said.

“This is the model we can keep running.”

Officials said the case was developed under PSN Recon, a branch of Project Safe Neighborhoods that merges federal, state, and local intelligence to target violent offenders at the organizational level rather than through isolated arrests.

Metcalf explained that the working group meets monthly to identify high-level suspects for joint prosecution.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department remains committed to dismantling violent criminal networks.

“Drug traffickers who poison our communities and enforce their territory through violence will face the full force of federal law,” Blanche said.

“Working alongside our state and local partners, the Department of Justice will continue to dismantle these criminal networks and restore safety to neighborhoods that have suffered for far too long.”

Patel concluded by thanking investigators and prosecutors for their years of work.

“You need courageous prosecutors to bring these cases,” he said.

“This is exactly how you safeguard American lives. The blocks belong to the residents, not the drug dealers.”

“For the criminals that remain out there,” Metcalf warned, “the next indictment has a space with your name on it.”