DOJ Indicts 33 in Philadelphia's Largest Federal Drug Bust

Federal authorities unsealed a 41-count indictment charging 33 alleged members of the Weymouth Street Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) in Philadelphia with distributing fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and cocaine from 2016 through 2025. The group operated on one of Philadelphia's most prolific drug blocks in Kensington, using violence—including shootings and murder—to enforce territory and retaliate against informants and rivals. Jose Antonio Morales Nieves was identified as the head of the DTO, overseeing operations and collecting "rent" from subordinates selling drugs in the area. This case represents the largest federal prosecution by the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in this century and involved coordinated arrests of 24 members, with others already in custody or at large. Federal and local officials, including U.S. Attorney David Metcalf and FBI Director Kash Patel, emphasized the operation's significance in combating the opioid crisis and restoring safety to affected neighborhoods. The bust highlights ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to dismantle violent drug trafficking networks and address the public health crisis associated with opioids.