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<p>HAZLETON &#8212; Court documents allege three men headed to Luzerne County Court on felony drug charges were caught with more than a pound of assorted controlled substances when state and local investigators raided their residence in December.</p><p>Jery De Le Cruz, 30, Hector De La Cruz, 30, and Julio Mendez, 36, are each facing several felony counts each of drug manufacture, misdemeanor charges of drug possession and other related charges.</p><p>The men were arrested after a Dec. 4 raid at North Bennett Court, where police said they seized hundreds of grams of several types of drugs, along with just over $7,000 in cash.</p><p>The Hazleton Police Department&#8217;s Narcotics Unit and Special Operations Group and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force were involved in operation along with investigators from the state Office of Attorney General.</p><p>According to police affidavits, officers encountered Hector De La Cruz in the living room area of the residence, while Jery De La Cruz attempted to flee out the front door. De La Cruz was apprehended on the front porch and police also arrested Mendez, who was allegedly found hiding behind a couch.</p><p>While searching the residence, investigators allegedly found &#8220;numerous&#8221; blue and white cellophane bags used for storing heroin scattered throughout the living room floor. Police said they found &#8220;numerous&#8221; bundles of packaged heroin, over 120 grams of suspected crack cocaine, over 200 grams of suspected loose and packaged powdered cocaine and a large bag with over 200 grams of marijuana in the living room.</p><p>Police said they also found a jacket in a closet that had four large vacuum-sealed bags containing over 200 grams of suspected cocaine in its pockets, as well as a large plastic bag containing over 100 grams of heroin in a kitchen cupboard and over 90 grams of suspected marijuana in a shoebox in a bedroom.</p><p>Police said they also found various drug paraphernalia, packing materials, cutting agents, grinders and digital scales throughout the residence. Police allege that Hector De La Cruz was in possession of approximately $6,385 in cash, along with a small plastic baggie containing heroin.</p><p>Police also allege that Jery De La Cruz was in possession of $675 in cash.</p><p>All of the men have had preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge Joseph Zola, who forwarded all of their charges to higher court. Hector De La Cruz and Mendez are each scheduled for a formal arraignment at 9 a.m. on March 11 at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Jery De La Cruz&#8217;s formal arraignment will be held on April 1.</p><p>Each is currently jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $250,000 bail.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Court documents: Suspects nabbed in Hazleton raid had more than a pound of assorted narcotics