A Morrisville man is facing drug trafficking charges after county detectives allegedly found 1,500 bags of uncut fentanyl during a drug bust in Pottstown Borough.
Naim Payton, 23, of Morrisville, has been charged with felony possession with intent to distribute, as well as misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, in connection with the investigation. He is currently in custody at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of $99,000 cash bail.
Members of the Montgomery County Detective Bureau learned that Payton would be in the Pottstown area on April 25 to sell a large quantity of uncut fentanyl, according to charging documents. Detectives spotted Payton arriving to the 400 block of North Evans Street and initiated a traffic stop that ultimately uncovered 1,500 bags of uncut fentanyl, police said.
The 1,500 bags were packaged into 10-baggie bundles, then five bundles were packaged into a “brick,” and five “bricks” were then packaged together into a “rack,” investigators said. The street value of the fentanyl was approximately $20,000, according to the district attorney’s office.
“Fentanyl is continuing to kill Montgomery County residents at an alarming rate, even as methamphetamine is becoming more prevalent throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. This significant arrest and seizure will make Montgomery County a safer place,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. “The message is clear to drug dealers: no matter what poison you are selling—fentanyl, opioids, heroin or methamphetamine — don’t do it in Montgomery County.”
Naim was arraigned by District Judge Scott Palladino on April 26, who set bail at $150,000 cash. County Pre-Trial Services reviewed the bail the following day and lowered it to $99,000 cash, effectively taking Payton out of administrative segregation in county jail and placing him into general population.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 19 at 8:45 a.m. in front of Judge Palladino
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
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