State police seize one of largest heroin hauls in state history

Delaware State Police joined by 12 other law enforcement agencies announced May 17 one of the biggest heroin busts in state history.

Law enforcement took two years investigating a Kent and Sussex county operation that uncovered more than 116,000 bags of heroin valued at more than $1 million, said Sgt. Richard Bratz of the Delaware State Police.

“It's one of the largest seizures of heroin in the state's history,” Bratz said, as a line of more than a dozen law enforcement officials lined up next to him.

In comparison, he said, a 2015 drug bust, known as Operation In the House, netted 40,000 total bags of heroin.

Deangelo McGlotten, 30, of Felton – a known heroin dealer arrested in 2014 after Dover police found him with 1,300 baggies of heroin in the TGI Friday's parking lot – was at the center of a drug ring that included money laundering at Dover Downs Casino, Bratz said.

Following a search of McGlotten's car, Bratz said, police uncovered $130,000 in a hidden compartment. A drug seizure on May 11 “is one of the largest single seizures of pre-packaged heroin in state history,” Bratz said. Police netted more than 74,000 bags of heroin with a street value of $740,000.

McGlotten now faces more than a dozen charges that include manufacturing and delivering heroin, money laundering and weapons charges. He is incarcerated on $1 million cash bond.

Greg Nolt, director of the Division of Gaming, said his department was first involved in the investigation, but quickly realized it was bigger than anyone anticipated.

“It began as a possible money laundering case and evolved into one of the biggest heroin seizures in state along with other asset seizures throughout Sussex County,” he said.

Agents with the FBI, DEA, U.S. Homeland Security, National Guard, Delaware Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement, the Attorney General's Office and local police departments collaborated in Operation Duck Hunt – a reference to McGlotten – netting 11 indictments.

Police say a key player was Luis Manzanet-Garlaza, 27, described as a top-level heroin dealer with ties in Milford, New Jersey, Florida and Puerto Rico. Police say Manzanet-Galarza and Christian Cortes, 27, and Daniel Montalvo-Rosado, 29, both of Wilmington, delivered heroin to McGlotten. McGlotten, police say, then worked with Timothy Felix, 30, of Dover, and Adrian Coverdale, 34, of Blades, to distribute heroin to Kent and Sussex county areas. Obrien Morris, 26, of Millsboro, is wanted for selling heroin in the Oak Orchard area and remains at large, according to a chart connecting all the players.

Police say Salman Choudhary, 37, of Georgetown, and Sohail Zeeshan, 39, of Rehoboth Beach, were part of a money-laundering scheme that involved buying chips at Dover Downs Casino.

Choudhary is being held on $1.7 million cash bond on charges of organized crime and racketeering, three counts of money laundering, two counts of attempt to evade or defeat tax and two counts of failure to file return. Police continue to search for Zeeshan.

Also incarcerated and facing drug charges are:

• Patrick Cirwithian, 30, of Greenwood, in default of $350,000 cash bond

• Adrian Coverdale, 34, of Blades, in default of $400,000 cash bond

• Timothy Felix, 30, of Dover, in default of $750,000 cash bond

• Tina Mosley, 51, of Greenwood, in default $750,000 cash bond

Police continue to search for Linda McGlotten, 49, of Milford, and Reginald McGlotten, 30, of Millsboro.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of wanted suspects is asked to contact Sgt. M. Dawson at 302-752-3815, Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, go to www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com or by sending an anonymous text to 274637 using the keyword DSP.