A GOOD REASON FOR SECRECY

So now we know.

For more than eight months, Hazletonians were asking why police had not
made an arrest in a shooting that happened on busy North Wyoming Street
last October.

City police and Luzerne County District Attorney David Lupas wouldn't say
much about the investigation, although Hazleton Police Chief Edward Harry
kept promising that an arrest would be made.

In July, police announced that a suspect had been arrested in New York, but
they wouldn't identify him.

Law enforcement officials were hinting privately that there was a good
reason for all the secrecy. On Tuesday, they cleared up the mystery.

U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Marino came to town and announced, along with
Lupas, Harry and Hazleton Mayor Louis Barletta that investigators had
dismantled a major international drug ring that was funnelling cocaine and
ecstasy into Hazleton from the Dominican Republic.

Police said the suspect in the Wyoming Street murder, Hector Roldan- Luna,
of the Bronx, was a member of one of two rival drug cartels operating in
Hazleton. The victim, Juan Lopez, was a member of the cartel, police said.

Roldan-Luna was indicted Tuesday on a variety of drug charges, along with
Manuel Eddie Riva-Charlie of Lincoln Street in Hazleton, said to be the
leader of one of the drug rings. Police said the other cartel was led by
Luciano Salvador of North Laurel Street.

In all, Marino said, 20 people have been charged in the drug smuggling
operation. Authorities said they seized 500 grams of cocaine, drugs worth
$450,000, a vehicle, a weapon and $100,000.

The reason for the secrecy was the fact that Roldan-Luna was a central
figure in the years-long drug investigation. Authorities said they could
not compromise the probe by releasing information.

That's why they kept putting off inquiries from the media, Lupas said.
"There was a lot of what I would have liked to have told you at those
times, but couldn't because we are out here to see the best result we can,"
he said.

"Operation Coal Cracker," as it has been dubbed, appears to be a huge
success. There is no doubt it will make a huge dent in the local drug
market and investigators on all levels are to be congratulated for their
persistence and throughness.

Hazletonians should be grateful that these alleged drug dealers are off the
street, but they should not assume that the local drug problem has been solved.

You can be sure more dealers will step in to take up the slack, and that's
the fault of local people who buy drugs. Chief Harry was correct to point
out that there continues to be a big market for illegal drugs in Hazleton.

"As long as the opportunity is here. . . people are going to come in and sell."