The Spirit broke news of a Narcotics Strike Force operation on Thursday that continued through Friday, netting 68 arrests — mostly buyers — and more than $10,000 in cash and prizes over two days of targeted enforcement in Kensington, according to Philadelphia Police Department Captain Lee Strollo.

Almost a third of the 49 buyers hailed from the ‘burbs. As expected, they were in town to sample Philly’s fine selection of heroin. In addition to confiscating 12 grams of heroin, the narcs grabbed 8.5 grams of crack, 6 grams of powdered coke, and one gram of weed. Sorry, folks. Police found no weapons during the raids.

At the scene Thursday, officers supervising the operation said they planned to confiscate vehicles of those involved. Only 10 vehicles were rounded up though, way less than expected. Strollo said it’s possible that’s an “anomaly.”

“I don’t know if it means suburban people are taking SEPTA in or they’re just using the drugs and staying,” Strollo said.

One can only hope that they’re spurring the Riverward’s economy by supporting local businesses while they’re here. At the very least, they should buy a bottle of ice cold water for a buck from the many corner vendors. It is very hot out.

This was the third targeted operation this year by Narcotics and the first time they did it over two days.

Strollo called the 68 arrests “a lot.” But while it does dent the local drug trade, the targeted enforcement operation — which included assistance from the 24th, 25th, and 26th Districts — may have only doubled the typical number. Strollo said, on “an average night … we could arrest from 10 – 20.”

The police targeted buyers in this operation, eroding the market for the dope, but picked up 19 “mostly street-level” dealers too. These suspects may offer info on the larger operations in the area.

“There’s many different drug trafficking organizations throughout the East Division,” Strollo said. “We do have intelligence on certain ones that run certain corners, certain blocks. We have certain areas that are worse than others. Our goal is to make an impact everywhere we can and more or less send a message.”

Police made no arrests at the actual targeted corner.

“There tends to be a congregation of buyers in that Front and Somerset area,” Strollo explained. “But they seem to be well organized in that they’re sent to different locations to make their purchases.”

The buyers will mostly likely be steered toward “diversion programs” when they make their way through the District Attorney’s office. Unless the suspects have priors they are eligible for those options.

There will be more stings in the future as the assistance from other police divisions, like the districts, help the narcs increase the pressure.

“Manpower isn’t what we’d like it to be,” Strollo said, adding that the mixture of uniformed and plainclothes officers works “tremendously.”