Police seize 300 bags of fentanyl

Officials seized 300 bags of fentanyl during a drug bust last week in Jim Thorpe.

The Jim Thorpe Police Department, along with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, conducted an illegal drug sale interdiction in the borough on Nov. 1.

“We received information in regards to a sale of fentanyl that was going to occur in the parking lot of the Jim Thorpe Market,” according to Detective Lee Marzen of the Jim Thorpe Police Department. Fentanyl is one of the strongest opiate drugs on the market, about 10 times more potent than heroin.

On the street, drug dealers use the substance to increase the potency of heroin.

Marzen said they also received information that the suspect vehicle was a blue Mercury Sable. He said the vehicle was stopped in the parking lot of the Jim Thorpe Market.

At that time, police discovered the suspects, Lisa Ciampaglia, 26, of Effort, and Sean Scott, 41, of Tamaqua, had about 300 bags of fentanyl in the car, Marzen said.

“We carried extra Narcan that day because fentanyl is such a potent drug in case any of the officers had an accidental exposure to the fentanyl,” Marzen said.

Ciampaglia had warrants out of Carbon and Monroe counties, he said.

Both Ciampaglia and Scott were charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Ciampaglia and Scott were arraigned Nov. 2 in front of District Magistrate Casimir T. Kosciolek of Lansford, and bail was set at $50,000 unsecured.

Ciampaglia is currently housed in the Carbon County Correctional Facility, while Scott is free after posting bail.

Both are scheduled to have their preliminary hearing at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday before District Judge Eric Schrantz of Jim Thorpe.