United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Two men were indicted following a long-term investigation into fentanyl/heroin packaging and distribution in New York City. During a court-authorized search of a narcotics packaging mill, located in an apartment in the Inwood neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, local, state, and federal law enforcement officers recovered thousands of glassine envelopes of potentially lethal drug mixtures, bags of powdered cocaine and xylazine, and bottles of veterinary-grade xylazine. Also present were boxes of the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan, one of which was empty.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan, Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced the unsealing of an indictment today in conjunction with arraignments of Narciso NEGRUM and Jose CASTILLO in New York County Supreme Court. The indictment charges the two with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees, and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree.

The long-term investigation was conducted by the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF) Group T-12, comprised of agents and officers from DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the New York State Police, with assistance from SNP’s Investigators Unit.

NEGRUM and CASTILLO were arrested on January 24, 2025, at 4863 Broadway, Apartment 1P, which allegedly served as a drug packaging location. A third individual, Jose LOPEZ PAULINO, was also arrested on charges filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “The recovery of an empty box of Narcan in this fentanyl mill, located in a residential apartment, eliminates any question about the defendants’ knowledge of the life-threatening danger posed by the white powders they were mixing and packaging. The dedication and commitment of the law enforcement team involved in this case undoubtedly prevented serious harm and potential loss of life.”

DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said, “When dangerous drug traffickers turn an apartment into a drug processing plant, the results can have devasting consequences. The indictment of these two individuals, Narciso Negrum and Jose Castillo, who recklessly jeopardized the safety of others by packaging and pushing illicit and deadly narcotics into our communities, is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of the DEA New York Division and our law enforcement partners. Together, we remain committed to protecting our communities and saving lives.”

“These drug traffickers were preparing to flood New York City with deadly poison – fentanyl and xylazine packaged for profit — without regard for the lives it would cost,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “With today’s indictments, we’re sending a clear message: we will not let criminals poison our streets and wreak havoc in our communities. I commend the relentless NYPD investigators, and our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work.”

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “We continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to target those who are trafficking dangerous narcotics in our communities. This investigation has shut down a major packaging operation and has taken deadly heroin and fentanyl off the streets. I want to thank the task force members and our partners for their outstanding work.”

As detailed in court documents and in statements made in court, members of NYDETF Group T-12 conducted physical and electronic surveillance at 4863 Broadway, a six-story apartment building. On January 24, 2025, at approximately 5:24 p.m., NEGRUM was observed leaving Apartment 1P carrying a weighed down bag, which he placed inside a vehicle. LOPEZ PAULINO then retrieved the bag and placed it inside his own vehicle, an Acura MDX with a Connecticut license plate. Members of NYDETF Group T-12 stopped the Acura and recovered approximately one kilogram brick (over two pounds) of powdered narcotics from a hidden trap compartment. Subsequent DEA laboratory analysis identified the contents as a mixture of cocaine, xylazine (a non-opioid veterinary sedative), lidocaine, and BTMPS (an industrial chemical used in plastics manufacturing).

On January 25, 2025, at approximately 1:10 a.m., members of NYDETF Group T-12 conducted a court-authorized search of 4863 Broadway, Apartment 1P, and recovered more than 8,000 filled glassine envelopes of fentanyl mixtures, and dozens of stamps used for branding glassines with names such as “Toy Story” and “Mayo.” Over a pound and a half of powdered xylazine and three bottles of veterinary-grade xylazine labeled with the commercial brand name Rompun were also in the apartment, along with three boxes of the overdose reversal drug Narcan, one of which was empty.

All the equipment necessary for packaging fentanyl for distribution, including thousands of empty glassine envelopes, was found in cabinets below the TV and the kitchen sink and in a bedroom.

DEA laboratory analysis on narcotics seized from the apartment identified mixtures of fentanyl, heroin, tramadol, xylazine, and other substances. Also known as “tranq,” xylazine is frequently mixed with fentanyl and increasingly found present in fentanyl-involved overdoses. Because xylazine is a non-opioid drug, it is not responsive to Narcan.  

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan thanked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., and commended SNP’s Trial Division and Investigators Unit, DEA New York Division, the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police for their work on the investigation.

The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.