Raid turns up drugs, weapons

Police Chief Gerard Dessoye walked behind the table, pointing to the plastic bags filled with more than $60,000 worth of various narcotics and describing the vast array of firearms investigators seized Thursday during a raid carried out in undisclosed parts of Wilkes-Barre and Plains Township. The haul, Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said, included "100 percent pure" heroin and cocaine and a cache of firearms ranging from a Soviet assault rifle to semi-automatic handguns, Dessoye said. "These are extremely high-quality firearms compared to what we've seen so many times in the past, where you see an old, rusty Saturday night special," Dessoye said. "Obviously the weapons are considerably more sophisticated, the narcotics are of a better quality." Police arrested three people in connection with the drug-trafficking network, the subject of a year-long investigation that included the execution of search warrants, controlled drug buys, traffic stops and electronic surveillance, according to a city a news release. The trio, described as associates from Long Island, N.Y., moved "massive quantities of cocaine and heroin" through Wilkes-Barre and nearby towns, the release said. "Today marks another victory in our ongoing battle to fight crime, not just in the city but in surrounding communities as well," Mayor Tom Leighton said as he thanked investigators from the city's Narcotics Unit, the state Attorney General's Drug Task Force, Luzerne County District Attorney's Office and Plains Township Police.   Investigators would not specify exactly where the raid took place, saying more arrests could be forthcoming. Police charged Raymond Davis, Anthony Davis and Leon Edward Berry in connection with the drug-trafficking network. Raymond Davis, 30, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy to deliver crack cocaine and criminal use of a communication facility, according to court documents. He had previously been convicted of drug charges in November. "It's just pure greed," Dessoye said of the continued drug trafficking. Raymond Davis said nothing as he walked into the courtroom for his arraignment on Thursday afternoon, and uttered only a "thank you" to Magisterial District Justice Richard J. Cronauer when the proceeding ended. Cronauer set Raymond Davis' bail at $100,000 for each of his four criminal complaints.

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