The New York State Police and the Massachusetts DEA Task Force announced the indictment of more than two dozen people for their roles in an alleged national heroin smuggling ring.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Dirty Dope,” seized more than 33 kilos of heroin and 2 kilos of Fentanyl, with a total street value of more than $13 million.
The operation — which began with the New York State Police Troop L Narcotics Enforcement Unit in April 2015 and netted alleged dealers and traffickers in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and New Jersey — is one of the largest heroin seizures ever in New York and is the single largest single seizure in the 46-year history of the state’s Organized Crime Task Force. The bust also seized 300 grams of cocaine, two semi-automatic handguns (including one inscribed with a drug cartel’s insignia) and eight vehicles (four of which contained sophisticated concealed compartments, or “traps,” designed for the purpose of smuggling narcotics).
The indictments, unsealed in Bronx County Court this week, detailed a sophisticated distribution ring that allegedly moved most of the drugs from Mexico into Tucson, Arizona. From Arizona, the drugs were allegedly moved in hidden compartments in cars from Arizona to the Bronx, Washington Heights, and Pennsylvania. From there, traffickers moved the drugs to sell in Suffolk County and the central Massachusetts town of Leominster.
The investigation utilized confidential informants, wiretaps, and physical and video surveillance.
In the wiretaps, the defendants can allegedly be heard discussing plans to mix other chemicals — including chicken anesthetic, Novocain, acetone (nail polish remover), roach killer (boric acid), fentanyl, and more – in with the heroin to add to the bulk and value.
During bail arguments, it was also alleged that traffickers used people addicted to heroin as human guinea pigs to test the quality of the cut heroin, flagrantly disregarding whether the laced heroin would kill them or not.
Those charged as major traffickers include:
•Daniel Abascal Pena
•Argenis Grullon, a/k/a “Alpha” or “Hanley”
•Reymon Rivera Ortiz, a/k/a “Dioco”
•Francisco Martinez Reyes, a/k/a “Viejo”
•Edwin Nunez Sierra, a/k/a La Papa
•Carlos Almonte, a/k/a Luis Rivera
•Carlos Hierro-Mata
•Luis Aude-Mora
Others indicted include:
•Manuel Castillano a/k/a “Cuñado”
•Manuel Amparo, a/k/a “Cacu”
•Tomas Salinas
•Hector Diaz, a/k/a “Shorty”
•Gisette Hernandez
•Jandhel Restituyo Vasquez
•Yeimy Matias
•Ryan Martinez
•Fernando Suero
•Oscarhyl Martinez Aude
•Manuel Torres, a/k/a “Raul”
•Amauris Sanchez
•Domingo Pena
•Juan Miguel Marte Javier
•Carlos Alberto Borges Perez
•Jose R. Rodriquez a/k/a “Rafa”
•Luis Martinez, a/k/a “Majimbe”
Those charged as major traffickers could face life in prison if convicted. All others could face 8 1/3 to 25 years if convicted.
Several additional agencies assisted in the investigation, including the Tucson Arizona United States Marshal Service.