More than 300 kilos of cocaine seized in one of Long Island's largest drug busts ever, officials say
More than 300 kilos of cocaine were seized in Nassau County in one of the largest drug busts ever on Long Island, officials said Tuesday.
Officers on patrol last week spotted what they thought was a drug deal taking place in a Holiday Inn parking lot on Sunnyside Boulevard in Plainview.
"They opened up the trunk on the pickup truck and this is what you got -- 312 kilos of cocaine," Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said.
The driver and passenger were charged with drug possession. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said she's seeking upgraded charges of major drug trafficking for Daniel Santana of Glen Cove and Michael Viera of Florida, who have pleaded not guilty.
Their attorneys and family members had no comment when asked about the charges. Police say both men are also facing murder charges in their native Puerto Rico.
Blakeman lauds law enforcement for massive bust
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman praised the officers' training and street smarts for the bust.
"This was a head's-up operation by our police officers. They understand how drug dealers operate. And it's because of their observations that they were able to recover this amazing amount of cocaine -- $21 million -- in excess of that probably," Blakeman said.
"Look at it all here in this auditorium. It is staggering," Donnelly said. "When this all gets cut up and sold, these individuals would have been very, very rich."
The investigation continues into where the drugs came from and where they were going. Police said they believe they foiled a major distribution pipeline.
"This massive amount of drugs, they were couriers," Ryder said.
"This historic seizure saved lives. There is no doubt about it, because this didn't get on the street and cause a fatal overdose to one of our children," Donnelly added.