Philadelphia man charged in drug trafficking and weapons case in kensington

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man has been charged in connection with a drug trafficking operation and weapons offenses in the city’s Kensington neighborhood, District Attorney Larry Krasner announced Monday.

Edgardo Rivera, 35, is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of an instrument of crime, and eleven weapons offenses.

From March 12 to April 28, officers with the Philadelphia Police Department’s Field Unit conducted surveillance on Rivera and observed narcotics sales activity, prosecutors said. A search warrant was later executed at a property on the 800 block of West Venango Street, where Rivera was taken into custody.

During the search, investigators recovered approximately $19,000 worth of narcotics, including crack cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana. Nine firearms were seized, three of which had been converted to fully automatic. Authorities also recovered $10,000 in cash.

“The amount of firearms and narcotics seized here highlights the threat Mr. Rivera posed to the Kensington community,” said District Attorney Larry Krasner.

The charges were announced during a press event held at Peace Park, a new community space on the 3200 block of Potter Street that opened Sunday. Assistant District Attorney Keion Cook is prosecuting the case, along with the DAO’s Dangerous Drug Offenders Unit, led by Assistant District Attorney Paul Reddel.

Peace Park was created through a collaboration between The Simple Way, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and community members, with the aim of reclaiming space and supporting nonviolent community development in Kensington.

Rivera remains in custody as the case proceeds through the court system.

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