Fourteen people are facing charges after narcotics detectives and patrol officers broke up an illegal drug distribution network centered on an apartment complex near the Arlington Expressway, police said.
The months-long investigation began in March with street-level narcotics detectives conducting a targeted probe into street sales throughout the highway corridor. Detectives quickly identified 40-year-old Somario Atkins as the principal supplier controlling the hub, later unearthing operations from 13 other regional dealers that were directly linked to him.
On Wednesday, September 2, investigators arrested Atkins, Maurice Nobles, 50, and Christopher Harden, 24.
During the initial sweep, officers confiscated a wide range of illegal narcotics, including:
- 42 grams of fentanyl — amounting to more than 21,000 potentially lethal doses
- 50.3 grams of crack cocaine
- 183.4 grams of marijuana
- 11 grams of MDMA
- 4.3 grams of powder cocaine
- 1.2 grams of methamphetamine
“Dangerous drugs are off our streets,” officials said following the sweep, crediting the combined work of narcotics detectives and District 2 patrol officers.
Vernon Arnold, 41; Darnell Bridges, 40; Evabda Chaney, 34; Kevin Collins, 36; Freddie Goodwin, 42; Darius Wimbley, 35; Selena Collins, 50; Derek Anderson, 47; Rufus Wilcher, 41; Aaron Lucas, 44; and Ladarrisus Hart, 30.
Police stated that the probe is ongoing, cautioning that “the investigation isn’t over.”
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