The Pennsylvania Attorney General has announced the arrest of an Emmaus man for allegedly leading a drug trafficking organization “that utilized suppliers in Mexico to traffic fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine in multiple Pennsylvania counties,” according to a press release dated May 11.

Joaquin Gonzalez, 40, was in Lehigh County Jail as of May 8, according to court documents available online May 13.

Gonzalez was held on $1 million bail.

Sally Ann Garcia-Colon, 39, also of Emmaus, was among others charged in connection with the organization, according to authorities.

Online court documents also list Garcia-Colon as held in county jail.

Eight additional people face charges in the case, according to authorities.

“Each defendant is charged with corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy and related offenses,” according to the press release.

Investigators learned Gonzalez “had a connection” in Southern California through which he was supplied with drugs.

“This was a high-level, cross-country operation,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in the press release.

Those charged in the case include Gonzalez; Jorge Marrero-Rodriguez, 60, of Allentown; Danny Cancel, 25, Israel Perez, 45, Anthony Planas, 42, Hanzel Rivera, 37, all of Bethlehem; Garcia-Colon; Jordan Pagan, 37, of Leola; Joel Castro, 41, of Orefield and John Pagan DeJesus, 49, of Whitehall.

“During searches, investigators seized five pounds of fentanyl, seven pounds of heroin, 3,000 fentanyl pills, 48 pounds of methamphetamine, six pounds of cocaine and two pounds of marijuana,” according to the press release.

In 2024, Gonzalez allegedly delivered six pounds of methamphetamine to Pagan.

In a traffic stop involving Rivera authorities found four pounds of methamphetamine, seven pounds of marijuana and $2,500 cash, according to the press release.

All defendants were in custody as of May 11 and preliminary hearings were scheduled May 12, according to authorities.