The Bethlehem Police Department announced a massive drug bust that took place in Bethlehem Township earlier this week, in which the Lower Saucon Township Police Department’s K-9 Unit–including Ofc. Steve Kunigus and partner Atos–played a part.
Lower Saucon Township Police Department K-9 team member Atos is pictured with equipment purchased with a grant from DeSales University’s Master of Criminal Justice program. Atos’s human partner is Ofc. Steve Kunigus. (FILE PHOTO)
Police said in a Facebook post that on Wednesday, Oct. 9, detectives from the Bethlehem Police Department’s Special Operations/Vice Unit, the Northampton County Drug Task Force and the Bethlehem Township Police Department served a search warrant at 2027 Willow Park Road, Apt. 2, in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County.
According to police, detectives seized approximately 550 grams of Fentanyl, 900 grams of heroin, several hundred grams of an unknown brown powder (a suspected controlled substance), about 65 grams of crack cocaine and powder cocaine, over 60 unknown pills, a. 380 caliber handgun, $13,000 in cash and multiple pieces of drug paraphernalia including scales, a kilo press and materials used in the packaging and distribution of heroin, Fentanyl and other controlled substances.
“The estimated street value of all the controlled substances seized is approximately $400,000 to $600,000,” police said.
As a result of the raid, police said Timothy Wilkins, 40, of 2027 Willow Park Road, Apt. 2, Bethlehem, Pa. has been charged with three counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver, Felon Not to Possess Handgun and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. They added that the $13,000 in cash and a 2005 Mitsubishi will both be seized under drug forfeiture laws.
“This arrest and seizure of fentanyl and opium/heroin-related drugs was a result of joint investigative cooperation between Bethlehem Police Special Operations Detectives, the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office and Drug Task Force and Bethlehem Township Detectives,” Bethlehem police said. “Lower Saucon Township Police K-9 assisted in the search of the apartment.”
Police said their investigation began as a result of citizen complaints and tips, which was followed by “months of surveillance and good old fashion (sic) police work by city and task force detectives over the past several months.”
“From the amount of heroin and fentanyl seized and other controlled substances seized as a direct result of this investigation and arrest, there is no doubt in my mind that countless human lives because of overdoses were saved,” Bethlehem Chief of Police Mark DiLuzio said.
The value of the drugs seized in Wednesday’s arrest plus the value of drugs seized in a separate case Sept. 27 is close to $1 million, which is “$1 million worth of drugs…off the streets of the City of Bethlehem, Northampton County and other Lehigh Valley communities,” the news release said.
The bust was highlighted in a post on the Lower Saucon Township Police Officers Association Facebook page, in which it was reported by the union that “Brother Kunigus and his partner Atos (assisted) with the capture of some really bad criminals!”
