Two Dozen Arrested, 4 Kilos of Heroin and Fentanyl Seized in Major Long Island Drug Bust

A major heroin and fentanyl drug ring operating on Long Island has been dismantled, authorities announced Tuesday night.

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said 24 people have been arrested and nearly four kilos of heroin and fentanyl have been seized following a multi-agency probe spurred by a marked increase of drug overdoses of users purchasing pure fentanyl and fentanyl-laced heroin on Long Island. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin.

The investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department, the Nassau Police Department and the Long Island Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force focused on the origin of the heroin and fentanyl found at Suffolk and Nassau drug overdose scenes. The narcotics were found at overdose locations wrapped in packaging stamped with the words “Aleve” or “Brooklyn” or “Brooklyn Bridge” or “Clean Up," according to a press release from Spota's office.

Large quantities of the heroin and fentanyl were wrapped in lotto ticket paper. Dealers use stamps and unique packaging as a way to brand their narcotics for potential buyers, Spota said.

The arrests “deliver a significant setback to one of the major suppliers of fentanyl in the metropolitan area," Spota said. Investigators estimate the network delivered more than 3,000 bags of heroin/fentanyl (nearly one kilo) per week from New York City to Suffolk and Nassau counties.

Those who have been arrested and arraigned over the past 10 days include residents of Deer Park, Mastic Beach, Massapequa, Brentwood, Ronkonkoma, West Babylon, Ozone Park, Middle Village in Queens and the Bronx.

Spota is expected to release their names at a press conference on Wednesday, but according to Suffolk Police arrest records, three of the alleged ringleaders are Roxy Headley, 29, of Mastic Beach, Edward Gonzalez, 27, of the Bronx and Melquisedec Puello, 30, of Middle Village. They are each charged with operating a drug ring.

Among the items that authorities will have on display at Wednesday's press conference:

• 3.8 kilos of heroin and fentanyl
• thousands of individually wrapped and stamped doses of heroin and fentanyl
• three handguns
• an AK-47 assault rifle
• a pistol grip shotgun
• narcotics packaging materials
• scales and grinders
• a money counter
• a bulletproof vest
• approximately $20,000 in cash

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