YONKERS, NY — A Newburgh man went to great lengths to conceal his illicit cargo, but a New York State Police K9 smelled a rat, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James.
On Thursday, James announced the arrest of 49-year-old David A. Herring, III, for trafficking cocaine across the Hudson Valley. An investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force and the New York State Police found out that the 49-year-old was moving cocaine from Westchester County through Rockland County to Orange County for likely redistribution, according to the task force.
The sting seized more than two kilos of cocaine with an approximate street value of $60,000 from a hidden compartment in Herring's vehicle during a traffic stop in October 2025, according to James. Herring was arrested and arraigned in Rockland County Court this month.
"My office will always stand up to protect New Yorkers from drug trafficking operations that flood our communities with dangerous narcotics," James said. "This investigation seized tens of thousands of dollars' worth of cocaine and shut down a trafficking operation in the Hudson Valley. I thank my partners in law enforcement for their collaboration and continued commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe."
The investigation began in March 2025 and included hundreds of hours of physical and covert surveillance and review of phone records and law enforcement databases. The seven-month investigation culminated in October 2025, when NYSP Community Stabilization Unit (CSU) members intercepted Herring in Rockland County as he was returning to Orange County with cocaine he transported from Westchester County.
"Drug trafficking operations do not recognize municipal or county boundaries, and neither can the law enforcement efforts aimed at dismantling them," Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza said. "Complex investigations like this require patience, precision, and an extraordinary level of skill and coordination. The successful outcome of this operation is a testament to the expertise and determination of the investigators involved. I commend the New York State Attorney General's Office, the New York State Police, and our Yonkers Police Detectives for their exceptional work and continued commitment to protecting our communities."
On October 30, 2025, following a surveillance operation in Westchester County, NYSP stopped Herring in his Subaru Outback in Ramapo. A NYSP K9 alerted its handler to an odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle, and a search of the car revealed a hidden compartment in the trunk of the vehicle, according to NYSP. Members of the NYSP gained access to the hidden compartment and located and seized two kilograms of cocaine and a bag of cocaine, the AG said.
"Through extensive collaboration, a dangerous cocaine operation has been dismantled that spanned across multiple counties in the Hudson Valley," New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said. "Not only did this interception save lives, but it also put an end to the violence that is often associated with drug trafficking."
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