Westmoreland County, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, in conjunction with the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, alongside federal, state, and local partners announced criminal charges against 12 people behind a narcotics trafficking organization accused of selling illegal marijuana and potent THC/Delta-related products at store shelves across the Commonwealth.

Attorney General Dave Sunday, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli, federal, state, and local partners detailed the culmination of a long-term investigation of high-potency THC products sold in stores across Pennsylvania.

Several defendants are also facing charges in relation to laundering millions of dollars connected to the illegal profits, primarily using LLC fronts to mask the sources of income, often cash deposits, according to the AG’s office.

All 12 defendants have been arraigned on the charges, which include corrupt organizations and dealing in proceeds of illegal activity following the recommendation of a statewide investigating grand jury. Many are also charged with felony drug-trafficking offenses.

“This criminal enterprise took deliberate steps to distribute these illegal narcotics, statewide, then to conceal the millions and millions of dollars they profited from the scheme,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Many of the products seized over the course of this investigation were packaged and flavored to attract children. Collaboration with law enforcement partners led to the takedown of this sophisticated network in the form of very serious charges.”

During the investigation, agents seized approximately 150,000 items from three warehouse locations that served as the primary distribution hubs — in Plum Borough, Allegheny County; Pittston, Luzerne County; and Bensalem, Bucks County.

Investigators also served search warrants at convenience stores and smoke shops across the Commonwealth.

The 12 individuals facing charges include: Albina Kumar, Duttkumar Patel, Dharmeshkumar Patel, Madhav Patel, Nirav Patel, Palak Patel, Divyesh Patel, Ketankumar Patel, Niravkumar Vora, Roshniben Patel, Ankitkumar Patel, and Mitul Patel.

The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office and Westmoreland County Drug Task Force have been actively pursuing vape shops accused of selling illegal THC and Delta-related products since executing the first search warrant on a vape shop in Murrysville in 2023.

Through the hard work of undercover detectives and police agencies, investigators have seized products that were being sold over the counter and contained illegal substances that often ended up in the hands of minors causing overdoses and medical intervention.

“The dedication and relentless efforts of our police agencies across the Commonwealth – local, county, and state – should be commended and applauded. The work they put into researching, conducting undercover buys, and obtaining intelligence to effectuate these arrests across the state laid the groundwork for these arrests and seizures on a much larger scale,” DA Ziccarelli said. “I am proud of the work our police agencies have accomplished and continue to look forward to the progress that has yet to be made to keep these harmful products from hitting the streets and getting into the hands of our youth.”

AG Sunday, Partners Announce Charges Against 12 People in Multi-Million-Dollar Drug Trafficking Ring Involving High-Potency THC Products Sold in Stores - PA Office of Attorney General

Disclaimer: To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all such charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.