An accused drug dealer in Blair County, who police say has been trafficking drugs for nearly 20 years, has been arrested.
Olubayo Mensah Ranger, 45, of Hollidaysburg, was arrested Wednesday night, along with Anthony Dwight Branch, 43, of Altoona, following a combined investigation by various local, state, and federal law enforcement organisations.
According to the criminal complaint, Altoona police were notified on June 16 that the duo would be travelling by bus to New York City to restock their narcotics supplies. Surveillance revealed that the two travelled from Altoona to State College, where they parked at the airport. They eventually boarded a bus bound for NYC.
Further surveillance in New York revealed the two exiting the bus and heading to a hotel. They departed the hotel the next day with the identical bags and luggage they had brought with them to New York City and were separated. According to the allegations, Ranger went to a drug-trafficking location in New Jersey, while Branch went to meet a man in the city’s Washington Heights.
The two then boarded a bus in New York City and returned to State College that same day. Surveillance cameras observed as the two guys returned to the airport, allegedly loading the identical luggage back into their van and driving away. Investigators followed the two as they entered I-99, going south.
Near 7:54 p.m., the duo came to a halt near mile marker 37.6, about a mile from the Pinecroft exit, after passing into Blair County on Interstate 99. According to the complaint, Cpl Fox and K-9 Blue were dispatched to the area after being alerted to the smell of narcotics.
According to the affidavit, a Homeland Security agent then applied for a federal search warrant, which a federal judge granted.
A search led to the recovery of $452,000 in cocaine and methamphetamine. Police discovered that just 100 crushed pills of the total contained methamphetamine.
Altoona police charged the duo, who were arraigned Thursday morning before Magisterial District Judge Daniel DeAntonio.
Bail was rejected. Both men are currently in Blair County Prison, awaiting a preliminary hearing on July 2.
Leave a Reply