Federal authorities delivered a sweeping blow to Philadelphia’s illicit drug trade on October 24, 2025, announcing the indictment of 33 individuals accused of operating one of the city’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations. The charges—unveiled at a news conference by U.S. Attorney David Metcalf—target the so-called Weymouth Street Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), which prosecutors say ran open-air narcotics markets in the heart of Kensington for nearly a decade.
According to the indictment, the Weymouth DTO distributed fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and cocaine on the 3100 block of Weymouth Street—described by authorities as one of Philadelphia’s busiest drug corridors. The group’s reach extended beyond Weymouth, covering street corners at F and Clementine Streets, E and Wishart Streets, and 3000 Potter Street, according to federal court documents cited by MyChesCo and the Associated Press. For years, these blocks functioned as open-air drug markets, with illegal narcotics sold “every day and at all hours,” as prosecutors put it.
“This indictment is, by defendant count, the largest federal case of this century prosecuted by our office, and it attacks the very heart of the opioid crisis in the neighborhoods of Kensington,” U.S. Attorney Metcalf declared. “We are committed to returning these neighborhoods to their residents and reclaiming them from drug dealers who profit from the misery of others.”
The operation’s alleged ringleader is 45-year-old Jose Antonio Morales Nieves, known as “Flaco,” of Luquillo, Puerto Rico. Prosecutors contend that Morales Nieves “owned” the primary drug block, authorizing others to sell drugs in exchange for “rent” payments. According to the indictment, he protected his criminal enterprise through threats and acts of violence, either carried out himself or by associates. “The group pumped fentanyl into a community already hurting, and they used violence to protect their business,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said at the news conference, as reported by MyChesCo.
The organizational structure of the DTO was sophisticated and tightly controlled. Members were assigned specific shifts and roles, ensuring the drug market operated around the clock. Ramon Roman-Montanez, 40, known as “Viejo,” was allegedly responsible for managing street-level operations—organizing shift schedules, distributing drugs, and handling proceeds. Nancy Rios-Valentin, 33, played a key role in managing finances and daily logistics, according to the indictment.
Authorities allege that the Weymouth DTO maintained control over its lucrative territory through a campaign of violence and intimidation. “The group used violence, including shootings, murder, and intimidation, to maintain control of its territory and retaliate against rivals or witnesses believed to have cooperated with law enforcement,” prosecutors stated. The indictment further claims that the DTO retaliated against suspected informants and committed violent acts against rival gangs seeking to encroach on their turf.
“Drug traffickers who poison our communities and enforce their territory through violence will face the full force of federal law,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said, emphasizing the Justice Department’s commitment to dismantling violent criminal networks. “Working alongside our state and local partners, the Department of Justice will continue to dismantle these criminal networks, hold violent offenders accountable, and restore safety to neighborhoods that have suffered for far too long.”
The investigation was the result of years of collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department led the charge, with key assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. FBI Director Kash Patel, speaking at the news conference, praised the “diligent work of the FBI and our partners,” noting, “Over 30 people have been charged for their alleged role in drug trafficking and dozens of other offenses. These individuals 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 scope of the takedown was massive. Twenty-four defendants were arrested in coordinated operations on October 24, 2025, while eight others were already in custody on unrelated charges. One suspect remains at large. “We have permanently removed a drug trafficking organization out of the streets of Philadelphia, and they’re going to stop pouring guns and chemicals and drugs into our communities,” FBI Director Patel said. The accused face a total of 41 counts, including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and related offenses.
Authorities said the organization’s control over the Kensington area was so total that “other members paid him [Morales Nieves] ‘rent’ to sell drugs there,” as outlined in the indictment. The DTO’s operations were described as “well-defined,” with roles for managing money, monitoring police activity, resupplying drugs, and carrying out violence against rivals. “For too long, the Weymouth Street drug trafficking organization flooded the streets of Kensington with drugs and terrorized residents with horrific acts of violence and intimidation,” said Wayne Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia FBI. “That ended today.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Solow and Jason Grenell. It falls under the umbrella of PSN Recon, a new criminal intelligence program launched in 2025 as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. PSN Recon aims to identify and prosecute Philadelphia’s most violent offenders through coordinated law enforcement efforts. “This is One Philly in action—agencies standing shoulder-to-shoulder to protect the people of this city,” Commissioner Bethel said, highlighting the model of collaboration demanded by Mayor Cherelle Parker since taking office.
While the takedown marks a significant milestone in the fight against drug-related violence in Philadelphia, officials acknowledge that their work is far from over. “There is no question our streets are safer today because of the tireless dedication and diligence of numerous federal, state, and local partners, but our work is not done,” Special Agent Jacobs remarked. The charges and allegations announced are, of course, merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
As the city reflects on this latest chapter in its ongoing battle against the opioid crisis, the message from law enforcement is clear: coordinated, persistent action can bring even the most entrenched criminal enterprises to justice, and the effort to reclaim Philadelphia’s neighborhoods continues.
