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Local detectives said they nabbed an "upper-level" heroin dealer this weekend who is accused of bringing drugs here from New York and Philadelphia.
David R. Lausell, 35, of New Holland, was arrested after detectives stopped his vehicle early Saturday morning on Route 23 in East Earl Township, according to police.
His brother, Manuel A. Gonzalez, 18, of Lancaster city, also was in the vehicle and was arrested, according to investigators.
Detectives said they found 100 grams of heroin and 5 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle. Investigators said the heroin could have been broken down into 3,000 bags and sold on the street for approximately $50,000.
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said Tuesday night that the busts were another step in stopping long-distance drug-trafficking.
"There is no question Lancaster is supplied with a significant amount of drugs from New York and Philadelphia," Stedman said.
"Enforcement alone will not lead to total victory, and it must be combined with education and prevention efforts to target the buyer," Stedman added. "Drug dealers are businessmen. If we can eliminate the buyer and make it too costly to do business, by enforcement, they will move elsewhere and stop plaguing our community."
Each suspect was charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin and marijuana, two counts of criminal conspiracy and a drug-free school zone violation.
The arrests were made after a lengthy investigation that included a surveillance detail on Lausell's vehicle.Lausell was at Lancaster County Prison on Tuesday night in lieu of $2 million bail. Investigators say he was buying drugs in New York and Philadelphia, then selling the drugs here to "midlevel dealers."
Gonzalez was at Lancaster County Prison on Tuesday on $500,000 bail.
Subsequent searches over the weekend at Lausell's home and the homes of his wife's grandmother and an unnamed associate revealed "assets and records" of the suspect's drug-dealing, investigators said.
Evidence was seized at properties in the 500 block of East Main Street in New Holland, the 700 block of Almanac Avenue in Lancaster city and the 800 block of Pleasure Road, Manheim Township.
Drugs, packaging materials, documents containing information on drug profits, a Yamaha motorcycle and a 2004 GMC Yukon were among the seized items, according to investigators.
E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com
