8 arrested in multi-agency heroin trafficking probe

PHILADELPHIA – Eight people were charged Thursday with conspiring to distribute heroin in the Kensington area of Philadelphia after an FBI and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) investigation. 

In addition to the conspiracy count, the defendants are charged with multiple counts of distribution of heroin and distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school or playground. 

According to the indictment, the conspiracy existed from March 2014 to October 2015 and was led by Jorge Balbuena, who supplied wholesale amounts of heroin, cocaine, crack, and other controlled substances to other wholesale drug distributors, and street dealers.   

The case was investigated by the FBI, ICE, and the Philadelphia Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David. E. Troyer and Marianne Shelvey of the United States Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.