United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK CITY – Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration New York Division, G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, New York City Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea, and State Police Acting Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen announced the arrests of five individuals and the seizure of approximately $2 million worth of suspected heroin and fentanyl pills following an investigation into a large-scale narcotics organization operating in the Bronx.

The investigation by members of the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, Group T-21, and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office’s Investigators Unit led to the dismantling of an alleged heroin packaging mill located inside two apartments at 2030 Valentine Avenue. Agents and officers recovered approximately 11 kilograms of suspected heroin in brick form and over 100,000 filled individual dose glassine envelopes of heroin, as well as 500 blue pills of suspected fentanyl and $60,000 cash. NYDETF Group T-21 is comprised of DEA agents, New York City Police Department detectives and New York State Police investigators.

On Tuesday, January 5, 2021, agents and officers were conducting video and physical surveillance on a suspected drug trafficking operation based on the second floor of 2030 Valentine Avenue when they allegedly encountered defendant Yeuris Arias in a stairwell at approximately 4:40 p.m. Agents and officers subsequently searched Apartment 2-D, a residence associated with Arias, with assistance from Port Authority Police K-9 "Balu."

Members of Group T-21 recovered approximately 60,000 glassine envelopes filled with suspected heroin, $60,000 cash and 69 different stamps bearing the names such as “Exit 3,” “Versace,” “American Gangster” and “Mortal Kombat” from inside a bedroom in Apartment 2-D.  On top of a table inside the bedroom were materials used for drug packaging, including inkpads and several thousand empty stamped glassine envelopes. Garbage bags containing additional empty glassine envelopes, as well as identification cards and a drug ledger were also recovered.

At approximately 5:40 p.m., members of Group T-21 allegedly observed defendant Nolan J. Reynoso Rodriguez exit a nearby apartment, Apartment 2-I. Through the open door, members of Group T-21 saw a tabletop covered with powder and glassine envelopes. Defendants Isabel J. Villar, Raymon S. Tavarez Urena and Yuly Arias were allegedly present inside the living room. Agents and officers secured Apartment 2-I and worked with the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor to obtain a court-authorized search warrant.      

At approximately 8:45 p.m., agents and officers entered 2030 Valentine Avenue, Apartment 2-I, in order to conduct the court-authorized search. Due to the large amount of powder unpackaged and exposed to the air in the apartment, K-9 "Balu" did not participate in the search for safety reasons.

Approximately 11 kilograms of suspected heroin, 500 blue pills of suspected fentanyl and 43,000 filled glassine envelopes containing suspected heroin were present in the living room of Apartment 2-I. The glassine envelopes bore stamp names that appeared to match those recovered from Apartment 2-D. Multiple cellphones and drug records were also seized.

The results of DEA Laboratory analysis on the narcotics in this case are pending. DEA estimates the street value of the narcotics at $2 million.

The five defendants face charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree. The defendants’ arraignments are scheduled for today in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and commended SNP’s Trial Division and Investigators Unit, the DEA, the New York State Police, the New York City Police Department and the Port Authority Police Department for their work on the case.
 
“As overdose deaths escalate, seizing the dangerous heroin and fentanyl before it ever hits the streets has never been more critical,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan. “I thank the dedicated investigators and attorneys who worked on this case.”

“This investigation uncovered an opioid den in the heart of the Bronx,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. “As opioid overdose deaths continue to threaten lives, law enforcement continues to weed out those responsible for opioid distribution. This organization had the capability and reach to supply heroin and fentanyl throughout the five boroughs and Northeast. I applaud our partners’ diligent work in the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force and at the New York City Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.”   

“Our city is no place for the illegal trade in dangerous and addictive narcotics, as is alleged in this case. I commend our NYPD officers and our partners and prosecutors for collaborating on the important work that resulted in this seizure,” said Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea.

New York State Police Acting Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said, "I applaud the collaborative work of our law enforcement partners at all levels and for the relentless efforts to keep illegal drugs off our streets. This seizure and the arrests of these individuals are the result of hard work and commitment to aggressively target and pursue criminals who continue to distribute these dangerous narcotics. Together, we will continue to work to prevent the flow of these deadly drugs into our communities before they threaten the safety and security of our neighborhoods.”

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