Major Long Island drug bust nets 21 suspects, weapons, cash

BRENTWOOD (WABC) -- Prosecutors on Long Island are expected to release information Tuesday on a number of arrests made in connection with a major drug ring.

Authorities say the ring has been moving five kilos of heroin and two kilos of cocaine around Suffolk County every two weeks.

More than 20 people have been arrested so far, as well as drugs, cash and weapons seized from a home in Brentwood.

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota will announce the arrests.

"Using every investigative tool including undercover buys, electronic surveillance and wiretaps, our investigation revealed two primary suppliers," Spota said. "Juan Smith, 25, of Valley Stream, and Elvis Castro, 28, of Amityville."

Both men are charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine and each are incarcerated in lieu of $5 million bail.

Authorities say that during the investigation, the defendants sold heroin and cocaine to as many as 20 drug buyers per day in Setauket, Stony Brook, Nesconset, Miller Place, Hauppauge, Smithtown, St. James, Lindenhurst, Amityville, Copiague, West Islip, Islip, Bay Shore, Holbrook, and Ronkonkoma.

"Buyers met with sellers on side streets near Sunrise Highway or the LIE, and some steady purchasers merited door-to-door delivery of heroin," Spota said.

He said most buyers purchased bundles of heroin, and the ring's customers were as young as 22 and as old as 65.

Police seized more than $200,000 in cash, a dozen firearms including an AK-47 assault rifle, kilos of heroin and cocaine and packaging materials including glassine envelopes, cutting agents, blenders, photos of drugs and money.