100 lbs. of pot seized by police

Two are arrested at 40th and Spruce University Police participated in a massive drug bust last Thursday, netting over 100 pounds of marijuana with a street value of about $750,000, University Police Sgt. Larry Salotti said last night. The bust, at 40th and Spruce streets, was the culmination of a undercover sting operation involving the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Customs Department, Pennsylvania State Police and Philadelphia police, Salotti said. University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said he had not seen a bust this size during his three years at the University. "I think it is one of the largest that we are aware of," he said. Earlier Thursday, the DEA had been tracking a drug shipment that arrived at the Philadelphia International Airport, where the drugs were placed in a blue Honda, Salotti said. The DEA decided to follow the car to see where the drugs would be taken, Salotti said. But, the agents lost track of the vehicle after it left the airport. The DEA then contacted the Philadelphia Police Department, which put out a citywide police alert for the car, broadcasting its description and license plate number, according to Salotti. At about 7:41 p.m., University Police pulled over the Honda at 40th and Spruce streets, Salotti said. Two people in the car were arrested and taken to the Philadelphia Narcotics office at 4th Street and Girard Avenue in North Philadelphia. The drugs, hidden in a box marked "fragile glass," were seized, Salotti said. Kuprevich said he does not think the drugs were intended specifically for distribution on the University's campus. "One of the first things I looked into was if there was any association with Penn, and nothing indicated that," he said. "That was our first concern with the bust so close to campus." Kuprevich said he is proud of the officers involved in the arrests. "It was a nice piece of police work," he said. "Whenever you get that quantity of narcotics off the street, it's good police work." DEA, Customs, Philadelphia and State police officials could not be reached for comment last night.