United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK - James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA’s New York Division, Bridget G. Brennan; New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor; New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill; George P. Beach II, Superintendent of the New York State Police, and Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced the seizure of approximately 18 kilograms of (nearly 40 pounds), worth up to $4 million, from a packaging mill in the Morris Heights neighborhood of the Bronx and a vehicle in Yonkers, N.Y.

On August 2, 2017, members of the New York Drug Enforcement Task (NYDETF) Group T-21 and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’(SNP) Investigators Unit were conducting surveillance in the vicinity of a six-story apartment building located at 1678 Nelson Avenue in the Bronx as part of an ongoing investigation. At approximately 11:30 a.m., agents and officers observed an individual exit the apartment building carrying a grey backpack and enter a black Jeep. Members of T-21 followed the Jeep to a parking lot at the Cross County Shopping Center at 8000 Mall Walk in Yonkers. Agents and investigators observed that individual meet with defendant Marvin Rosa, who entered the front passenger seat of the Jeep and exited a short time later holding the grey backpack.

After placing the backpack in the trunk of a silver Ford Focus with Pennsylvania license plates, ROSA joined another individual, defendant Cheyenne Baker, and briefly entered 8000 Mall Walk, before returning to the vehicle and driving off. A DEA agent stopped the Ford Focus in the vicinity of 35 Vredenburgh Avenue. Upon searching the vehicle’s trunk, agents and officers recovered the grey backpack, which contained approximately 10,000 individual dose glassine envelopes of heroin branded with the stamp “7up.” Rosa and Baker were placed under arrest.

Members of Group T-21 and SNP investigators continued surveillance at 1678 Nelson Avenue. At approximately 5:40 p.m. they observed defendant Luis Amador exit the building carrying an orange bag. Based on surveillance of the building, agents and officers approached Apt. 5C and observed defendant Jose Genao and Carlos Soto at the entrance to the apartment attempting to shut the door. The apartment appeared to contain an active heroin packaging mill. Simultaneously, a number of other individuals exited a rear window of Apt. 5C and fled via the fire escape.

The Office of the Special Narcotics (SNP) obtained a search warrant for 1678 Nelson Avenue, Apt. 5C. At approximately 8:45 p.m., agents, officers and investigators conducted a search of the apartment and recovered approximately 16 kilograms of a substance consistent in appearance with heroin, including approximately 10 kilograms of heroin in powder form, a packaged kilogram of heroin and approximately six kilograms of heroin contained in individual glassine envelopes wrapped in paper. Also recovered were packaging materials and paraphernalia, including ink stamps, grinders, electronic scales and hundreds of empty glassine envelopes.

The DEA estimates the black market value of the heroin at approximately $4 million. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned later today in Manhattan Criminal Court.

DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt stated, “The DEA’s NYDETF tracked down another heroin mill hidden in plain sight. Opioid traffickers are infiltrating neighborhoods where hard-working New Yorkers are raising families. Not only are these traffickers bringing crime and temptation to New Yorkers’ doorsteps, but they are fueling opioid addiction throughout the Northeast. That is why New York’s drug law enforcement continues to zero in on traffickers in our city.” 

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “It is critically important that we continue our efforts to curb the flow of heroin to our streets. In the mill raided yesterday, agents and investigators recovered 40 pounds of what appeared to be heroin destined for the New York City metropolitan area the Northeast region. The drugs will be submitted to the DEA laboratory for verification of the substance. Criminal organizations such as this one continue to spread death and tragedy throughout our area.”

Ms. Brennan thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and commended the work of her office’s Special Investigations Bureau and Investigators Unit and the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, including members of the DEA, the New York City Police Department and the New York State Police, for their work on the case.

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said, “Our investigation stopped more than 18 kilos of heroin from reaching our streets, in the second major drug seizure this week,” said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill. “This diligence by detectives, federal agents, and prosecutors will inevitably save lives.”

New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said, "Thanks to the hard work and partnership of law enforcement at the federal, state and local level, we have dismantled yet another heroin mill. These arrests should send the message that we will continue to aggressively pursue criminals who profit from illegal drugs at the expense of the safety and security of our neighborhoods. We will continue to work together to make our communities safer from crime.”
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said, “This case illustrates our relentless investigation and prosecution of those who traffic heroin to the city and those who package it for distribution in our neighborhoods, causing devastation.” 

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