$13 Million in Heroin Seized, 25 People Indicted: AG

More than two dozen people have been indicted and more than $13 million worth of heroin has been seized in the takedown of a national heroin smuggling ring, authorities announced Friday.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, New York State Police and the Massachusetts DEA Task Force released the details on the investigation dubbed “Operation Dirty Dope,” which led to the seizure of more than 33 kilos of heroin and two kilos of fentanyl.

The operation — which began with the New York State Police Troop L Narcotics Enforcement Unit in April 2015 and netted alleged dealers and traffickers in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Arizona and New Jersey — is one of the largest heroin seizures ever in New York and is the single largest single seizure in the 46-year history of the state’s Organized Crime Task Force, authorities said.

The bust also seized 300 grams of cocaine, two semi-automatic handguns (including one inscribed with a drug cartel’s insignia) and eight vehicles (four of which contained sophisticated concealed compartments, or “traps,” designed for the purpose of smuggling narcotics), authorities said.

The indictments, unsealed in Bronx County Court today, detailed a sophisticated distribution ring that allegedly moved most of the drugs from Mexico into Tucson, Arizona.

From Arizona, the drugs were allegedly moved in hidden compartments in cars from Arizona to the Bronx, Washington Heights and Pennsylvania. From there, traffickers moved the drugs to sell in Suffolk County on Long Island and in the central Massachusetts town of Leominster, authorities said.

The investigation used confidential informants, wiretaps and physical and video surveillance. In the wiretaps, the ring leaders can allegedly be heard discussing plans to mix other chemicals — including chicken anesthetic, Novocain, acetone (nail polish remover), roach killer (boric acid), fentanyl and more — in with the heroin to add to the bulk and value.

During bail arguments, it was also alleged that traffickers used people addicted to heroin as human guinea pigs to test the quality of the cut heroin, flagrantly disregarding whether the laced heroin would kill them or not.

“Operation Dirty Dope is another step in our multi-faceted effort to curb the heroin crisis that is destroying our communities,” Schneiderman said. “Our message to dealers and traffickers is simple: we will not tolerate anyone smuggling death into our state. I want to thank all of our law enforcement partners across the country, especially the New York State Police and the Massachusetts DEA Task Force, who helped bring these defendants to justice.”

Those charged as major traffickers include:

• Daniel Abascal Pena
• Argenis Grullon, a/k/a “Alpha” or “Hanley”
• Reymon Rivera Ortiz, a/k/a “Dioco”
• Francisco Martinez Reyes, a/k/a “Viejo”
• Edwin Nunez Sierra, a/k/a La Papa
• Carlos Almonte, a/k/a Luis Rivera
• Carlos Hierro-Mata
• Luis Aude-Mora

Others indicted include:

• Manuel Castillano a/k/a “Cuñado”
• Manuel Amparo, a/k/a “Cacu”
• Tomas Salinas
• Hector Diaz, a/k/a “Shorty”
• Gisette Hernandez
• Jandhel Restituyo Vasquez
• Yeimy Matias
• Ryan Martinez
• Fernando Suero
• Oscarhyl Martinez Aude
• Manuel Torres, a/k/a “Raul”
• Amauris Sanchez
• Domingo Pena
• Juan Miguel Marte Javier
• Carlos Alberto Borges Perez
• Jose R. Rodriquez a/k/a “Rafa”
• Luis Martinez, a/k/a “Majimbe”

Read the full indictment here.

Photo via New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman