Stratford Man Sentenced In Heroin Trafficking Operation: Feds

STRATFORD, CT — A Stratford man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison in connection with a heroin trafficking operation involving a Bridgeport deli owner, according to officials.

Nadyar Malaka, 35, was also sentenced Monday to three years of supervised release following the prison term, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Leonard C. Boyle announced. Malaka was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine, and to forfeit $52,111 and a 2012 Porsche Panamera 4.

An investigation found that Eddy Antonio Torres Morel was trafficking narcotics from Big Daddy's Deli and Jamal's Market, two stores he operated on East Main Street in Bridgeport, according to authorities.

“During the investigation, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of a half-kilogram of heroin from Torres, first at Jamal’s Market on October 29, 2019, and then at Big Daddy’s Deli on January 24, 2020,” officials wrote in a news release. “Malaka assisted Torres’ drug trafficking operation by storing and packaging narcotics at his residence, storing drug proceeds at his residence, and transporting narcotics and drug proceeds to Torres and others.

“The investigation also revealed that Malaka engaged in the interstate trafficking of untaxed cigarettes.”

Malaka was arrested in February 2020. He pleaded guilty last July to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

Torres, of Meriden, pleaded guilty to the same charge and, was sentenced last September to 78 months in prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.