State and Allegheny County law enforcement leaders heralded the results of a targeted operation on the east side of the county Monday as they announced the arrests of 45 people accused of dealing guns and drugs.
Investigators said they seized 1.9 million doses of fentanyl and heroin, 30 pounds of cocaine, 54 guns and – from one of the accused, Kyree McCray – child pornography images he created.
“These drug trafficking networks are extremely complex,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “They are widespread and they have more resources than ever before.”
Investigators said the operation began in January, after police chiefs from Monroeville to Turtle Creek noticed an uptick in crime, particularly gun-related crime.
Six of the 54 guns they seized had devices that modified the Glock pistols to make them fully automatic weapons.
Such “Glock switch” devices are what was used to kill Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire in 2023.
While investigators noted overdoses in the area have fallen from peak levels during the fentanyl crisis, they shared one surprise that came from this operation: cocaine appears to be growing in popularity in Western Pennsylvania.
Cocaine now makes up more of the drug seizures in the area than fentanyl, they explained, which is the first time that’s happened in years.
“Seems like cocaine is making a comeback,” Monroeville Police Chief Doug Cole surmised.
WPXI pressed for additional information.
“When individuals on the Southwest border are buying in bulk, it is a lot cheaper than when it makes its way to Pittsburgh,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Giordano explained. “It’s about five times more expensive. So they’re able to get more bulk quantity, bring it up through different means -- tractor-trailers, trapped vehicles, stuff like that. They’re able to bring it up more easily, and it’s easier to obtain than fentanyl used to be.”
Sunday and the chiefs stressed that parts of the investigation were still ongoing.
“If our communities aren’t safe, literally nothing, nothing else matters,” he said.
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