United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK CITY –   A Bronx man was arrested in connection with the seizure of approximately 23 kilograms of heroin/fentanyl (50 pounds) from an apartment located near Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The narcotics carry an estimated street value of $7 million.

Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division, New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli announced the arrest following a short-term investigation by the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF) Group T-21.

A criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) charges Samuel Rojas-Camacho with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree. Rojas-Camacho was arrested the night of Monday, November 7, 2022 and arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on the night of Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

“This case illustrates how narcotics flow from state to state, with large amounts of fentanyl and heroin continuing to flood New York City. Traffickers take great pains to conceal drug shipments that sell for millions of dollars, in this case inside a table outfitted with a hidden trap compartment,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan. “Overdose rates remain at record-high levels, with the majority of deaths attributed to fentanyl.”

Special Prosecutor Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and commended SNP’s Trial Division and DEA’s NYDETF, including members of DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department and the New York State Police, for their work on the investigation.

“This apartment contained 23 kilograms/50lbs of fentanyl/heroin concealed in a secret compartment of a coffee table,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino.  “Removing this fentanyl/heroin from our streets is the equivalent of saving thousands of lives. Rojas-Camacho is one of many drug traffickers in our city who spread poison throughout our communities. I applaud the efforts of our law enforcement officers, agents, and prosecutors who investigate and arrest those responsible for fueling drug poisonings.”

“The NYPD and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to rid our city of illegal drugs,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “And we will pursue, arrest, and hold accountable anyone who seeks to profit from this poison. I want to thank the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York, the New York Division of the DEA, the New York State Police, and everyone else involved in this case for their outstanding work.”

State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said, "Through our continued partnership, we have prevented a large amount of dangerous drugs from reaching our neighborhoods, in all likelihood preventing a number of overdoses. This suspect was set to profit from the sale of these narcotics with absolutely no regard for the damage that would have been inflicted to our communities. I commend the work of our members and our partners on the task force for their relentless efforts to stem the flow of dangerous drugs into our state."

Pursuant to the investigation, agents and officers stopped a green Jaguar sedan at the southwest corner of Jerome Avenue and East 233rd Street at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday, November 7, 2022. Rojas-Camacho was a passenger in the vehicle. The investigation revealed that he had travelled out of state that same day. Rojas-Camacho had previously been observed on video surveillance entering and exiting the lobby of an apartment building located at 3535 Dekalb Avenue on approximately three prior occasions.

At approximately 10 p.m., members of NYDETF Group T-21 arrived at 3535 Dekalb Avenue, Apt. 5B, and conducted a search, recovering approximately 11 brick-shaped packages of heroin/fentanyl containing approximately one kilogram of narcotics each, 5 hockey puck-shaped packages containing heroin/fentanyl, and a large plastic bag containing heroin/fentanyl. The packages and large bag of narcotics were found inside a concealed compartment in a coffee table.

A shoebox in the bedroom contained an additional quantity of heroin/fentanyl. Street ready glassine envelopes stamped with the brand name “Skull Crusher,” empty glassines and plastic bags of heroin/fentanyl were also recovered from the bedroom closet.

A subsequent field test on some of the narcotics yielded positive results for fentanyl and heroin. Further analysis is pending.

All of the equipment and paraphernalia necessary for packaging narcotics was present in the apartment, such as coffee grinders, rubber gloves, an air purifier and a scale. Bank receipts and medicine bottles in Rojas-Camacho’s name were also recovered.

At the time of arraignment, a Manhattan Criminal Court judge set bail at $100,000 cash/$100,000 bond/$200,000 partially secured bond.

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