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Release Two Tons of Marijuana Seized in Bronx Warehouse DEA Special Agent-In-Charge Anthony P. Placido, and Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan announced the arrest of four Mexican nationals and one Dominican national in connection with the seizure of more than 4,000 pounds of marijuana -- one of the largest marijuana seizures since 1998 – and approximately 330 pounds of cocaine in a Bronx warehouse near the Bronx Terminal Market. The investigation was conducted by the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force Group T 42, which is composed of DEA agents, New York City detectives and New York State troopers. Twenty kilograms of cocaine (forty four pounds) and $10,000 in U.S. currency were recovered from an electronic trap concealed inside a black Volkswagen Passatt driven by Vicente Abrue, who was arrested in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan yesterday morning. Following the seizure of the cocaine in the car, DETF agents, investigators and detectives executed a search warrant at 120 E. 144 Street in the Bronx, where they found the two tons of marijuana and 130 more kilograms of cocaine. They arrested the remaining defendants later Thursday morning. The marijuana was wrapped in contact shelving paper, wetted with liquid fabric softener to conceal the smell, and packaged in 48 cartons, each containing three to four bale-like bricks weighing about 80 pounds. The cocaine was wrapped in tinfoil which covered clear cellophane packaging. Detectives recovered 13 U-Haul boxes each containing 10 kilograms of cocaine. Also recovered at the warehouse were two empty u-haul boxes large enough to hold the 20 kilograms of cocaine seized from Abreu’s car. The drugs have an estimated wholesale value of close to $13 million dollars, and a street value of at least 30 million dollars. Along with Abrue, also arrested was Daniel Mujica, Jose Antonio Mujica, Daniel’s brother, Eduardo Gil, a driver and Anino Velazquez, a worker. The defendants will be charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal possession of marijuana in the first degree. They will be arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court later today. Vincente
Abrue, 32 Daniel Mujica, 29 Jose Antonio Mujica, 33 Eduardo Gil, 37 Anino Velazquez, 46 |
