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Chester County Press

Finally, 'El Jefe'

06/04/2014 11:29AM ● By Acl

By Uncle Irvin


After years of picking up low-level drug dealers in southern Chester County, combined federal, state and local law enforcement apprehended a major drug dealer who was way up the food chain.

Salvador Lemus, a United States citizen from Mexico, was arrested last week, along with others, mostly low-level pushers. According to Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan, the bust was the largest ever in Chester County.

The gang blended in with the large Hispanic community in the Kennett area and apparently operated with virtual immunity for years. The big boss Lemus rents a home in East Marlborough Township, not far from the tony fox-hunting crowd.

Probably through the use of an informant, the DEA and local law enforcement finally hit pay dirt and did big damage to a cartel which will have a hard time reassembling here.

Since Hogan, a former federal prosecutor, was elected District Attorney several years ago, law enforcement pressure has turned up a notch. District Justice Matthew Seavey arraigned Lemus on a $1 million bail (10 percent of $1 million is pocket change to this kingpin). However, it is very unlikely that Lemus will ever get out of jail because of myriad other arrest warrants. County Sheriff “Bunny” Welsh's deputies went into overdrive to pick up 40 gang members who were being held in various jurisdictions and get them incarcerated.

Lemus's U.S. citizenship should be revoked and he should be sent back to Mexico and turned over to authorities there, who now have harsher penalties than the United States. Getting the big shots, not the small fry pushers, is what controlling drugs is all about.

Lemus's gang specialized in cocaine, which means that others are peddling the other big killer, heroin. They need to be shut down now!