The high-risk operation led to the arrests of three men and drug seizure. (Photo from Adobe Stock)
A months-long investigation by the New Castle County Division of Police High-Risk Offender Team has resulted in the arrest of three men and the seizure of a significant quantity of illegal drugs, authorities announced this week.
The investigation, launched in March, targeted the distribution of controlled substances across the county.
Police say the operation culminated on May 30 with the arrests of Daronce Beulah, 30, and Karon Phillips, 32, both taken into custody in Wilmington.
A third suspect, 34-year-old Stepheon Mason, was arrested later that evening following a search of a Maple Street residence.
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During the initial arrests of Beulah and Phillips, detectives recovered 627 bags of heroin/fentanyl—amounting to nearly 19 grams—as well as 6.5 grams of crack cocaine and over $1,400 in cash.
The subsequent search of the Maple Street home, where Mason was apprehended, uncovered an even larger stash of drugs:
- 1,356 bags of heroin/fentanyl (45.38 grams)
- 4.7 grams of raw fentanyl
- 707 MDMA pills
- 689 grams of marijuana
- 84 Alprazolam pills
- $4,406 in cash
All three suspects face a range of drug-related charges. Beulah, who is also accused of illegal firearm possession and endangering the welfare of a child, was held at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $162,252 cash bail.
Phillips faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges and is also being held at the same facility after failing to post $62,102 cash bail.
Mason was charged with several offenses, including drug distribution and child endangerment. He was released on $6,800 secured bail.
Police say the investigation highlights the continued threat posed by the distribution of dangerous narcotics, particularly fentanyl, in the community.
Anyone with additional information related to this investigation is urged to contact New Castle County Police.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Jarek can be reached by email at jarek@delawarelive.com or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.
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