United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Two men were arrested on narcotics possession charges following an investigation that dismantled a major drug stash location near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. A court authorized search of a residence located at 69 West 164th Street, Apt. 2, yielded a combined total of approximately 2.5 kilograms (over five pounds) of cocaine, ketamine, and MDMA, as well as approximately 30 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, over 100 pounds of marijuana, and $85,000 cash. 

Christopher Roberts, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Task Force Division, Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced charges against Eduardo RAMIREZ SALINAS and Jonathan FRANCO following arraignments in Manhattan Criminal Court, which occurred late on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

A criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) initially charges both defendants with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees. Additional charges are anticipated. Bail was set for FRANCO in the amount of $25,000 cash/$25,000 bond. SALINAS was released on supervised release. 

The investigation was conducted by the DEA’s New York Task Force Division (NYTFD) Group T-43 and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s (SNP) Investigators Unit. NYTFD Group T-43 is comprised of agents and investigators with DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and the New York State Police.

“Once again, the DEA New York Task Force Division and our law enforcement partners successfully shut down another poly-drug network, resulting in the seizure of cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, as well as over 30 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms and a large amount of drug proceeds,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts. “This operation, which was carried out in the Bronx, an area frequently exploited by drug traffickers, has disrupted another distribution network responsible for flooding our communities with dangerous narcotics. Every arrest and every operation is a step toward protecting our citizens and holding those poisoning our neighbors accountable. The DEA remains steadfast in its mission to safeguard our communities.”

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “It is alarming to recover tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cocaine, ketamine and other illegal drugs, along with $85,000 cash in a residential neighborhood a few blocks from Yankee Stadium.  We will continue to work with the Bronx District Attorney and our partners in the DEA’s New York Task Force Division to stem the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities.”

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said, “I commend my local, state and federal law enforcement partners, and Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan, for continued vigilance against illegal, dangerous drugs in our community. Five pounds of cocaine, ketamine, and MDMA (Ecstasy) and over 100 pounds of marijuana were intercepted, before very risky combinations of narcotics reached the streets, posing health risks.”

“The defendants in this case turned a Bronx home into a dangerous drug den, stashing more than 5 pounds of illegal poison — including cocaine, ketamine, and other narcotics — that threatened a thriving community,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Illegal drug trafficking rings that place New Yorkers at risk have no business in our city. Thanks to our NYPD detectives, along with all our law enforcement partners, this pipeline has been dismantled and those responsible are being held accountable.” 

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Because of critical partnerships forged, we have dismantled a drug operation and kept dangerous substances off our streets, stopping the violence associated with them. These arrests are the result of an ongoing, aggressive strategy to stop illegal drug distribution throughout New York State. I thank our State Police members, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bronx District Attorney, and NYPD for their valuable partnership that was instrumental in these arrests and seizure of illegal drugs.”

At approximately 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, agents and investigators entered 69 West 164th Street, Apt. 2, a three-bedroom duplex within a split family home. Both defendants allegedly reside at the location and were home at the time of the court authorized search. FRANCO was on the ground level of the residence, while SALINAS was in an upstairs bedroom. 

Agents and investigators discovered a large stash of drugs in an upstairs room that FRANCO allegedly used as an office. Large quantities of psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana were allegedly out in the open. A metal crate in the upstairs hallway near the bedrooms contained large quantities of marijuana, including bulk quantities in clear bags and numerous individual packets, including edibles. 

A kilogram of cocaine (over two pounds) was allegedly inside a closet in the office, while additional quantities of cocaine were plainly visible in the room. More than 1.5 kilograms of ketamine (over three pounds) and MDMA in pill and powder form were also in the room. Stacks of cash bound in rubber bands totaling approximately $85,000 were neatly stacked on a desk near a money counting machine inside the office. 

The results of DEA laboratory analysis on the recovered substances are pending.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, and commended SNP’s Special Investigations Bureau and Investigators Unit, the DEA New York Task Force Division, 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.

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