Several law enforcement agencies teamed up to crack what they're calling a fairly sophisticated drug trafficking ring in Buffalo on Tuesday. They arrested a total of 27 suspects in connection with this case through a series of early morning raids. The suspects are accused of transporting cocaine from Puerto Rico through New Jersey and then using Buffalo-area gang members to distribute the drugs throughout Western New York.
The F.B.I.'s Safe Streets Task Force, aided by State Police and other agencies, executed warrants at four Buffalo addresses Tuesday morning -- 265 Whitney Place, 28 California St., 59 Military Rd., and 370 Grove Street. The arrests are the result of an investigation that's been on-going since last summer. "The people in Buffalo were obtaining drugs from individuals in Puerto Rico and New Jersey and distributing the drugs in Buffalo and in some instances to known gang members," explains James A. Jancewicz, F.B.I. Supervisor Special Agent.
The F.B.I. refers to this group of alleged cocaine traffickers as the Javier Navarro drug ring. Navarro himself is already behind bars. He was arrested earlier in this investigation. After Tuesday's arrests the F.B.I. says they've rounded up most of the other major players in the operation. "The criminal complaint alleges that in total between May and December these individuals trafficked approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine which estimates to about $600,000 in cash," says Jancewicz.
The F.B.I. believes the arrests will put a dent in local illegal drug activity but it certainly does not wipe out the problem and so their work continues. Investigators have already identified six other suspects they're still looking for in connection with this alleged drug ring -- Eric DeLeon-Navarro, Sr. of Puerto Rico, Edwin Laurencio of Buffalo, David Colon of Cheektowaga, Nourooz Ali of Buffalo, Anibal Gonzalez of Tonawanda, and Ronald Mitchell of Hamburg. "The investigation is very much on-going," says Jancewicz, "We expect more arrests down the road."
All those arrested on Tuesday are charged with cocaine trafficking and some are facing additional heroin, marijuana, and weapons charges as well.
Twitter
Facebook