More than 1,000 K2 synthetic marijuana packages seized in Brooklyn raid
BROWNSVILLE, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Police seized more than 1,000 packages of synthetic marijuana during a raid in Brooklyn Thursday.
The drug, also known as K2, was recovered from an apartment on Park Place in the Brownsville section.
Police said they also found seven 9 mm cartridges, three bags of cocaine, an assortment of packaging paraphernalia and 31 tablets of Clonazepam.
Four people were arrested, bringing the total number of recent arrests to 74.
"It's not uncommon for stores that would sell or warehouse these types of drugs to avoid detection and to avoid attention to then start employing runners or other types to still sell the drugs," NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said.
The following suspects face charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal use of drug paraphernalia and unlawful manufacture, distribution or sale of a synthetic cannabinoid:
-Carlos Alvarez, 40
-Pablo Morales, 29
-Jessica Rodriguez, 30
-Jamie Harrison, 19
"You're literally playing Russian Roulette," Chief Shea said. "Nowhere on it does it say anything of evil intent. You see cartoons, you see superheroes, you see things, really, that a 2- or 3-year-old kid is going to naturally gravitate to. If there is a silver lining, we have not had a fatality. My fear is that's going to change."
A toxic batch of K2 that recently caused more than 240 overdoses prompted the NYPD and New York City Department of Health to issue an advisory alert to New Yorkers and particularly Brooklyn residents, warning about the dangers of K2.
"K2 is a dangerous, deadly drug, but this strain is especially threatening," NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said. "All residents who live near these five locations are warned about exceedingly dangerous K2 batches in circulation and advised to avoid usage. Residents are urged to call 911 immediately if they or someone they know are showing symptoms of overdoses."
In total, the health department confirmed there were 84 K2 emergency department visits between May 19 and May 21, the most in a three-day period since July 2016.
----------
