More than a dozen people were arrested after police took down a drug trafficking organization that sold and manufactured cocaine at a North Philadelphia coffee shop, officials said. Léelo en español aquí On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the ar rests of 17 alleged members of the Louis Alexander Drug Trafficking Organization. “Today marks a new day for North Philadelphians who were, for far too long, exposed to a group of criminals who did not hesitate to carry firearms to protect their lucrative trade — distributing poisons,” Attorney General Sunday said. “For years, with our partners, we assembled cases against each and every charged defendant so when we took action, it would be the end of this criminal enterprise.” The group, led by 56-year-old Louis Alexander, used the North Philadelphia shop Cumberland Coffee and Snacks – located on West Cumberland and North Cleveland streets – as a front where they sold drugs and manufactured cocaine, according to Sunday. Last week, Philadelphia Police and Pennsylvania State Police served search warrants at 30 locations linked to the organization, mostly in North Philadelphia but also in other parts of the city as well as Delaware County and New Jersey, officials said. During the searches, police seized more than four pounds of cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, 130 pounds of marijuana, Ecstasy pills, drug money and 27 firearms, according to investigators. In addition to Alexander, 16 other alleged members of the organization were arrested. They include Carl Gates, Kendal Wilson, Gloria Alexander, Isaiah Washington-Trotty, Tyrone Scott, Marcus Clark, Isaiah Gallashaw, Cedric Carter, Paul Johnson, Eric Crawford, Corey Smith, Steven Birton, Tammika Billups, Domanick Pope, Calvin Gambrell, and Philip Smith. The suspects face various charges, including felony counts of corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver and illegal possession of firearms. Alexander is currently in prison on $750,000 bail. Online court documents don’t list legal representation who could comment on his behalf. Sunday said the suspects who are currently on parole or probation will have detainers lodged and will face additional punishment for violating the law while under supervision. Senior Deputy Attorneys General Daniel Sweeney and Michael Barry of the Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section will prosecute the cases. In addition to Philadelphia Police and Pennsylvania State Police, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office, Monroe Township Police Department (New Jersey), and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office (New Jersey) were all involved in the investigation. ...read more read less