Several arrested in alleged million-dollar drug and gun trafficking ring in NYC
JAMAICA, Queens (WABC) -- Authorities are cracking down on what they described as a million dollar drug and gun trafficking ring in Queens.
Several men were arrested following an investigation that lasted a year and a half, resulting in numerous drug and gun seizures in Brooklyn, Queens and Nassau County.
The arrests stem from longstanding violence and drug sales in and around Rufus King Park in Jamaica.
"This was a major operation, when we raided the homes of the principals, we seized drugs with an estimated street value of $1 million including five pounds of cocaine," said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
In addition to the drugs and guns recovered during raids, undercover agents bought cocaine and ecstasy from at least one of the defendants on 40 occasions and bought five handguns, officials said.
Katz said authorities also confiscated a cocaine press machine.
"They put the cocaine in that machine, pressed the drugs into bricks and then they were wrapped and then sold for distribution on the street," Katz said.
Three of the eight defendants have been charged as major drug traffickers.
Police said it's a risky job for the undercover cops.
"I don't think there's anything more dangerous than sending a detective to a location with money to buy firearms, sometimes in which they are loaded," said NYPD Deputy Chief Jerry O'Sullivan.
Officials say the accused leader of the drug and gun ring, Adrian Escobar, is still on the run and faces up to 150 years behind bars if captured and convicted.
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