READING >> Berks County Detectives have arrested two Exeter Township residents who were allegedly involved in a drug-trafficking operation in the township.
James Edward King, 42, and Nikki Rae Swisher, 23, have been charged after township police launched a joint investigation with the District Attorney’s Drug Task Force and the Pennsylvania State Police vice units into drug activity in Berks and Lancaster counties, according to a release from the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities seized drugs valued at more than $250,000 as well as weapons, cash and body armor.
During the investigation, officers learned that King and Swisher were trafficking substantial amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription drugs throughout Berks and Lancaster counties, police said. The pair based their operation out of their home at 198 Old Friedensburg Road.
On April 18, Berks County detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence and on Wednesday, April 19, detectives observed King and Swisher leave the home driving a silver Chevrolet Equinox heading toward Lancaster County. At 10: 45 a.m., the two arrived at the 2800 block of Main Street in Morgantown, at which time they were arrested without incident, police said.
Authorities said Swisher and King were in possession of 280 grams of methamphetamine worth $28,000, 16 grams of cocaine worth $640, 12 grams of heroin worth $3,600, 24 grams of marijuana worth $480 and over $3,700 in cash believed to be from previous drug sales.
Detectives served the search warrant obtained for the residence and additionally found 246.5 grams of methamphetamine, 74 grams of heroin, 55 grams of cocaine, 22 grams of marijuana, 57 Xanax pills, 18 eight milligram suboxone strips, a digital gram scale, $5,000 in cash, documents pertaining to King and Swisher and other drug paraphernalia.
Berks County Detectives then obtained another search warrant for a storage unit on Morgantown Road, Reading. Police say in the storage unit they found 450 grams of methamphetamine, 310 grams of heroin, 360 grams of marijuana, $10,000 in cash, a 12-gauge sawed off shotgun, a .22-caliber rifle, two 12-gauge shotguns, a Body Armor ballistic vest, a 12-gauge shotgun and .22-caliber ammunitions and drug paraphernalia.
King and Swisher were transported to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department for processing. They have been charged with possession with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal conspiracy, persons not to possess a firearm, unlawful body armor and prohibited offensive weapon.
They were arraigned before District Judge Raymond S. Sheller of Lancaster County. They were unable to post the set $500,000 bail and are being held at Lancaster County Prison.
