Nearly 300 bricks of heroin seized in Monroeville bust

Three men who were traveling to Pittsburgh from Philadelphia face drug-related charges after police accused them of trafficking nearly 300 bricks of heroin this month.

Maximo Almonte, 48, Noel Argedys, 26, and Odai Hernendez, 30, were allegedly involved in a heroin operation. Police believe they are all of Dominican Republic descent.

Using a confidential informant, police officers from Monroeville, Penn Hills, Wilkinsburg and the state Attorney General’s Office set up a sting operation Feb. 6 at the Outback Steakhouse restaurant on Mosside Boulevard in Monroeville.

According to a complaint filed against all three men, they were the confidential informant’s heroin supplier.

“The men, who are … from the ‘Badlands’ of Philadelphia, utilize numerous cars and an organized structure to transport narcotics from Philadelphia across the state to Pittsburgh and the surrounding boroughs,” the complaint alleges.

The Badlands is a section of Philadelphia known for drug activity and drug-related violence, according to local media.

The complaint said the men packaged the heroin in Philadelphia and used several vehicles in efforts to elude officers. One vehicle would draw attention from law enforcement while another carrying drugs could slip by undetected, police said.

Police had singled out a Mitsubishi Gallant that was often driven by Almonte. When police were confident that Almonte and the other men were in the car, police approached the Mitsubishi to apprehend the occupants, the complaint said.

Detectives spotted drugs in the car as the men got out, police said, prompting investigators to perform a search. An officer found a bag in the vehicle’s trunk, according to the complaint.

“Inside the bag was approximately 294 bricks of heroin,” said the complaint.

Police estimate the value of the bricks of heroin they seized, which constituted about 14,800 individual doses, at about $148,000.

Police said a brick of heroin is made up of five bundles that hold 10 stamp bags each, for a total of 50. The bricks are typically taped tightly together.

Almonte has been charged with four felonies and two misdemeanor charges related to illicit drug activity. Argedys and Hernandez face three felonies and two misdemeanor charges.

Bail for each man was set at $2 million. They have different court dates in February in front of District Judge Jeffrey Herbst.

Court records do not show attorneys for Almonte and Hernandez.

Attorney Laurence Anthony Narcisi III of Philadelphia is representing Argedys. He did not return a phone call seeking comment.