Suspects charged with running NY area heroin pipeline
MINEOLA (WABC) -- An investigation that started on Long Island has led to the arrest of nine people on drug and other charges.
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice and other officials announced the arrests at a press conference Thursday. Rice says several million dollars' in heroin, as well as cocaine, ecstasy and anabolic steroids were sold via Craigslist.
Charges against the defendants include conspiracy and sale of a controlled substance.
Police found heroin inside the engine of a car parked in Queens. "Our partners put the value of these drugs at $1.5 to 3 million," said Rice.
After an 18 month long investigation prosecutors say they've taken out a major heroin supply chain originating from deep inside Mexico and extending to the streets of New York City and Long Island.
"Far too many funerals, far too many families broken up, and today we make a dent in that pipeline," said Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.
Prosecutors say Bronx resident Cesar Romero-Astudillo was the ring leader. They say the drugs were packaged in his apartment.
"Others we arrested who flew in from California acted as mules, swallowing condoms or balloons of heroin and expelling them from their bodies," said Rice.
Investigators say Santiago Juela of Brooklyn helped facilitate the smuggling by allowing the drug car to be parked at an auto body shop in Queens.
Juela worked there.
"They emptied out the contents of the engine, the 5 or 6 kilos and then 13 days later we believe they loaded the trap with cash and sent it back on it's way to Mexico," said Rich Whelan of the Nassau County D.A.'s office.
Alfredo Tellez was Juela's boss.
"It comes as a shock to me because as far as I knew there was nothing illegal going on," said Tellez.
Investigators say they believe the ring was generating anywhere from $6-12 million every month over the past few years.
If these defendants are found guilty of a various number of crimes they could face anywhere from 20 years to life in prison.
