Pennsylvania Commissioner Among 22 Arrested in Multi-State Drug Case

A Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Democrat commissioner was arrested Thursday as part of a sweeping multi-state drug investigation that authorities say has been ongoing for several years. 

Zach Cole-Borghi, who also served as Bethlehem City Hall’s open records officer, faces charges including marijuana possession and possession with intent to deliver roughly a pound of the substance. 

He posted a $50,000 bond and was released pending further court proceedings. 

District Attorney Gavin Holihan described the investigation as “wide-ranging” and “multi-jurisdictional,” extending across Pennsylvania as well as Illinois, New York and Wisconsin. 

Authorities confirmed that the probe has already resulted in 22 arrests. 

“This operation included individuals arrested yesterday in Chicago and Wisconsin, along with multiple warrants across Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey,” Holihan said, highlighting the investigation’s geographic reach.

Officials detailed the seizure of a significant quantity of evidence. 

Authorities recovered more than $100,000 in cash, cryptocurrency accounts, over 2,000 pounds of marijuana and large amounts of THC, MDMA and liquid cocaine. 

Law enforcement also confiscated at least 25 firearms, including semi-automatic rifles and ghost guns. 

Two clandestine labs producing illegal THC products were dismantled by the Pennsylvania State Police Clandestine Laboratory Team, underscoring the operation’s complexity, The Blaze reports.

Cole-Borghi, a first-term commissioner who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for District 3 earlier this year, resigned from his city position following his arrest, according to Bethlehem Human Resources Director Michelle Cichocki. 

Holihan declined to comment on the commissioner’s specific involvement, citing an ongoing grand jury investigation.

The arrests have drawn reactions from colleagues and local officials. 

Bethlehem City Council members Bryan Callahan and Grace Crampsie Smith described the news as “distressing” and “disheartening,” while Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong noted that, absent a court order, Cole-Borghi cannot be removed from the November ballot due to election deadlines, WFMZ reports. 

Armstrong also said officials are closely monitoring the case and will provide updates as more facts become available.

Cole-Borghi’s Republican challenger, Jacqueline Rivera, emphasized accountability in a statement.

“The people of Lehigh County deserve representatives they can trust — leaders who put families, neighborhoods, and the well-being of our community first,” she said. “Upholding integrity and transparency must remain a top priority.”

The investigation is among the largest local law enforcement operations in recent years, shedding light on a sophisticated network of alleged drug distribution spanning multiple states. 

Authorities continue to explore additional charges and connections, and the full extent of Cole-Borghi’s role remains under review.

The case has sparked renewed discussion about oversight of public officials and the responsibilities of elected representatives. 

Officials and residents alike are grappling with the implications of a commissioner being implicated in a large-scale drug operation while holding public office. 

As investigations continue, the unfolding situation may have political consequences ahead of the upcoming election.

With significant evidence already seized and dozens of arrests made, law enforcement authorities have described the probe as ongoing. 

“This operation demonstrates both the scale of the network and the cooperation required across state lines to dismantle it,” Holihan said.

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