Massive heroin stash, cash seized in New York City, feds say
NEW YORK -- Two men were arrested Sunday during a massive heroin bust in New York City -- which authorities say was the largest in the entire state's history.
CBS New York reports that over 70 kilograms of heroin, $2 million cash and a firearm were seized from a Chevrolet Suburban behind an apartment building in a tree-lined New York City neighborhood.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents were watching as one of the suspects picked up the drugs from an industrial lot in Montville, N.J., and brought it back to the stash house in the Bronx.
New York City Special Narcotics prosecutor Bridget Brennan said the drugs were not intended for sale within the city, but the seizure was so massive -- with a street value of $50 million -- it could have provided a dose for every city resident.
"This was not a distribution organization, this was a major heroin importation organization," Brennan said.
A federal law enforcement official told CBS News that it was the largest heroin seizure by the DEA in New York history, and the fourth largest heroin seizure by the agency nationwide.
Jose Mercedes and Yenci Cruz Francisco, both New York City residents, were arrested Sunday in connection with the bust.
Brennan said the duo have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. It's estimated that the organization was receiving shipments of this size at least once a month.
The cartel allegedly shipped the heroin to the suspects,who are accused of operating as drug wholesalers, distributing the heroin to illicit drug operations throughout the Northeast.
"Six-hundred million dollars worth of drugs coming into New York, being sold on the street, and in essence, that amount of money is just bottoming right out of our economy," Brennan said. "Drug organizations throughout New York City and in the surrounding area will be scrambling to find heroin for quite some time."