On a peaceful block in Dyker Heights, lined with homes and schools, officers broke up a sophisticated drug ring hiding in plain sight.
"There were seven apartments on multiple floors," Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Kaz Daughtry said. "Safe houses, storage houses, distribution centers, in this beautiful luxury building behind us."
Inside those apartments, in video provided by city authorities, it showed all the making of what police call a drug trafficking and money laundering hub, crammed with designer drugs and wads of cash. There were machines to count the cash, and two weapons.
"This wasn't just a smoke shop, this was a trafficking operation," Daughtry said. "A serious threat to public safety, and ops like this attract crime. They often are guarded with illegal weapons, and they put the entire community at risk."
Officers took six people out in handcuffs after they say one barricaded himself in a room with the guns.
The investigation, led by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency, started in Maryland, but led detectives to Dyker Heights, where the New York City Sheriff and the NYPD conducted extensive surveillance.
"This is an ongoing investigation, there's still other people involved, and we'll be knocking at your door shortly," said New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda.
Investigators say the group rented the seven apartments, strategically scattered throughout the large building, so as not to attract their neighbors' suspicion.
Product and customers moved through the garage, and not always past the manned front desk.
One neighbor had no idea.
"Nothing looked suspicious. Nothing looked crazy," said resident Wing Chung. "It's a safe building. It's a family-oriented building, so I can't imagine this happening here."
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