Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane and Hazleton Chief of Police Frank V. DeAndrea Jr. Thursday announced the successes of the Mobile Street Crimes Unit in Hazleton, which include over 100 arrests and approximately 35,000 packets of heroin seized.

In the last three days, agents have made 30 arrests and seized 9,060 packets of heroin as a part of "Operation Rising Star."With a population of 33,000 but only 38 police officers, Kane deployed the Mobile Street Crimes Unit (known as X-IMPACT) to Hazleton in September to assist the Hazleton City Police Department.Investigations uncovered that heroin is the drug of choice in the Hazleton area.Approximately 64 stamps of heroin have since been identified and roughly 35,000 bags of heroin have been seized.As with any brand name, these stamps purportedly signify the quality of the heroin being bought and the organization from which it can be obtained.In five months' time, "Operation Rising Star," in conjunction with 16 local, state and federal agencies, identified numerous drug trafficking organizations.Many of the defendants arrested are also affiliated with street gangs including the Bloods and the Latin Kings.Evidence showed that gangs in Hazleton were recruiting children as young as 9 years old."Operation Rising Star" defendants arrested over the last three days included:• Candace Alexander, age unknown, 619 Hobart St., Gordon, Schuylkill County, is charged with one count of possession of heroin.• Harry Bellitts, 44, 39 E. Market St., P.O. Box 413, Tresckow, Carbon County, is charged with one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess heroin.• James Drob, 51, 501 S. Kennedy Dr., McAdoo, Schuylkill County, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of conspiracy to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.• Crystal Fehnel, 26, 506 W. Main St., Weatherly, Carbon County, is charged with one count of possession of heroin.• Nathan Fritz, 25, 231 Catawissa St., Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, is charged with one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of paraphernalia.• Justin Hill, 22, 37 E. Ridge St., Apt. B, Lansford, Carbon County, is charged with one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to use drug paraphernalia.• Sara Hittinger, 33, 39 E. Market St., P.O. Box 413, Tresckow, Carbon County, is charged with one count of possession of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess heroin.• Debra Horvath, 55, 2008 Main St., Mahanoy Plane, Schuylkill County, is charged with one count of possession of heroin.• Richard Pizzo, 30, 23 Circle Drive, Barnesville, Schuylkill County, is charged with one count of possession of heroin.