Drug bust stemming from turnpike traffic stop only 2nd of kind in nation

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man and woman are in the Westmoreland County Prison on $1 million bail after they were found with an ounce of raw heroin during a traffic stop Monday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

PHOTOS: Man, woman arrested after turnpike traffic stop leads to drug bust

Diedre Fielding, 30, of Plum, and Deandre Harris, 42, of New York, are charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and conspiracy.

Police said there were indications of criminal activity when Fielding and Harris were pulled over about 11:30 p.m. Monday in Mount Pleasant Township. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery and seizure of the ounce of heroin and led to the execution of a search warrant at Fielding’s home.

“A significant amount, but at the home they had an even larger amount … almost a quarter of a million dollars we got off the streets,” Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Steve Limani said.

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During the search of Fielding’s home, authorities said they uncovered a stolen pistol, more heroin, crack cocaine and compressed cocaine, which was in envelope-like packaging. The only other known arrest related to compressed cocaine was made in Milwaukee, making this bust only the second of its kind in the nation.

“You can hide it in a crevice on your body,” Limani said. “It’s difficult to detect. It’s as thin as an envelope, and yet you still have a large quantity.”

Investigators said Fielding and Harris moved the drugs, but did not deal them.

“Were talking about people that are mules. They're moving drugs, that's all their job is to move drugs back and forth. We believe this batch was also from the Dominican Republic,” Limani said.

Cox Media Group