Two men from the Philadelphia area are in custody on drug possession charges following a pursuit that began late Tuesday afternoon in Lehighton and ended in Lehigh County.

Lehighton Borough Police Chief Troy Abelovsky said that just after 5 p.m., officials conducted a narcotics operation, which led to the arrest of Michael Washington, 39, and Donte Jackson, 33, both from the Philadelphia area.

Participating were members of Lehighton Borough Police Department assigned to the Carbon County Drug Task Force and working in collaboration with the Nesquehoning Police Department, Franklin Township Police Department, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

Abelovsky said information was obtained through an ongoing narcotics trafficking investigation, that two men would be transporting a large quantity of illegal narcotics to the Lehighton area.

The vehicle and suspects arrived at a predetermined area, and a narcotics transaction was completed with undercover officers, he said.

As officers attempted to take the offenders into custody, Abelovsky said the offenders fled in a black Honda.

He said the vehicle led officers into Lehigh County and the driver attempted to strike pursuing police units.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle without success, Abelovsky said, adding that the offending vehicle began traveling recklessly. The pursuit was terminated.

A few minutes later, Carbon County Communications Center received information that a vehicle matching the description stopped in a residential driveway, on Candlewycke Drive, Laurys Station.

The residents provided a description of the two men who fled the vehicle on foot, Abelovsky said.

Within 20 minutes, officers located the men about a quarter mile away.

No injuries were reported during the incident, Abelovsky said.

He said officers recovered the following on the offenders: 237 bags of fentanyl, 58 grams of methamphetamine, 10 suboxone, small amount of marijuana and the marked money used by undercover narcotics officers.

Abelovsky said Slate Belt Regional Police K-9 Unit searched the area where the two offenders fled.

For additional safety precautions to the community, a search was conducted to ensure no weapons or additional narcotics were discarded in the area, and no items were located during the search, he said.

Abelovsky said the vehicle was removed from the scene and a search warrant was expected to be conducted on Wednesday.

Washington faces charges on two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, along with one count each of conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver/distribute, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving and criminal mischief.

Jackson faces charges on two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and one count each of Possession with Intent to Deliver/Distribute), criminal use of communication, possession of marijuana and criminal mischief.

Both offenders were transported to the Carbon County Correctional Facility and were arraigned Wednesday by District Judge Joseph D. Homanko Sr. of Weatherly.

Washington received $150,000 straight bail, and Jackson $100,000 straight bail. Both offenders were unable to post bail and were remanded back to the Carbon County Correctional Facility.

“The Lehighton Borough Police Department is committed to keeping our residents safe from illegal narcotics activity,” Abelovsky said. “We partner with surrounding departments to combat the narcotics issues that affect the Carbon County area.”

Abelovsky said they encourage residents to continue to provide information leads to the police department “Tip-Line” at 610-377-6519, as all information received is valuable to them.

“Lehighton Borough Police appreciate the continued cooperation from our surrounding police municipalities who also dedicate time and energy to keep their streets free of illegal narcotics activity,” he said. “By continuing to work together, we can make a difference one arrest at a time.”