United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK – DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan, New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett and Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced the alleged seizure of 70 kilograms of suspected cocaine (154 pounds) in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx and the arrest of one defendant. The narcotics were destined for distribution on New York City’s streets and in the Northeast.

Defendant Miguel Marte-Veras is scheduled for arraignment later today in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of operating as a major trafficker and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees. The case is being prosecuted by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

Members of the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force Group T-41 were conducting surveillance as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation in Hunts Point on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019, and Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, when they observed two trucks enter through a metal security gate at 559 Longfellow Avenue, a commercial warehouse. One truck was transporting a shipping container and the other was a tractor trailer with a white and blue refrigerated container.  

On Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, members of Group T-41 subsequently observed a blue Hyundai Santa Fe enter 559 Longfellow Avenue at approximately 11:45 a.m. Agents and officers were familiar with the blue Hyundai Santa Fe from previous surveillance operations, during which the car was seen entering and exiting 559 Longfellow Avenue bearing different license plates, a common counter-surveillance tactic.  

Members of Group T-41 followed the blue Hyundai Santa Fe as it left the warehouse at 12:54 p.m. and conducted a vehicle stop in the vicinity of 1552 Washington Avenue. The vehicle was driven by an individual later identified as Miguel Marte-Veras. Agents and officers observed two large black suitcases inside the car and recovered 70 brick shaped packages. Each package was heat sealed in plastic consistent with the appearance of a kilogram of narcotics.

Members of DETF froze the warehouse location and obtained a search warrant with assistance from the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor. At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, members of Group T-41 entered 559 Longfellow Avenue and found the white and blue refrigerated container previously observed on the tractor trailer. A search revealed rotted bags of papayas, pallets of cartons of oregano and coconuts inside the container. Port Authority K-9 “Balu” alerted to the presence of narcotics when searching the container. Further investigation located a concealed compartment in the top trailer.

The DEA estimated that the black market value of the suspected cocaine at nearly $2.5 million wholesale value and over $10 million street value. Field tests yielded positive results for cocaine. DEA laboratory analysis of the seized narcotics is pending.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and commended SNP’s Special Investigations Bureau and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, including members of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department and the New York State Police, for their work on the case. Special Prosecutor Brennan thanked Port Authority K-9 “Balu” and the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit for their assistance.

“In 2018, cocaine was involved in 52 percent of overdose deaths in New York City,” said Special Agent in Charge Donovan. “Cocaine remains a major public health threat and is commonly being mixed with fentanyl. Along with an increase in cocaine seizures in recent years, we have seen bulk smuggling methods using trailers filled with cover loads of produce. This seizure is significant because we interdicted millions of dollars-worth of cocaine amidst pallets of papayas, oregano, and coconuts destined to New York City and the northeast.”

“This investigation uncovered a commercial warehouse close to the busy Hunts Point produce market that served as a front for a major international narcotics importation organization. The sheer size of the cocaine shipment seized reflects the magnitude of this drug operation,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Brennan. “Despite the thousands of trucks passing through this area each day, our dedicated partners in the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force successfully disrupted a major narcotics supply route.”

“These arrests and narcotics seizures once again demonstrate that the investigative efforts of the NYPD and our law enforcement partners are precisely-focused, patient, and relentless. As long as individuals are involved in illegal narcotics trafficking, the NYPD and our partners will stop this threat to public safety. I commend and thank the NYPD detectives involved in this investigation, the members of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor,” said Police Commissioner O’Neill.

Superintendent Corlett said, “Due to the hard work and cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement, we have disrupted a major drug trafficking operation and prevented illegal narcotics from making it into our communities. We will continue this partnership and aggressively target those who bring dangerous drugs and violence into our neighborhoods."

The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.