$45 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF HEROIN AND COCAINE SEIZED DURING 18 MONTH UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION OF DRUG GANG

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson and Police Commissioner Howard Safir today announced the seizure of more than $45,000,000 worth of heroin and cocaine during the course of an 18 month investigation by the Bronx DA's Major Case Task Force and the NYPD's Bronx Narcotics Division.

The target of the investigation, which relied heavily on the use of wiretaps, surveillance cameras and sales to undercover detectives, was a Bronx based drug gang whose members have been charged with Conspiracy, Criminal sale of a controlled substance and Criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Several defendants in this case will also be prosecuted by Special Narcotics Prosecutor Robert Silbering and Westchester County District Attorney Jeannine Pirro since the web from this illegal enterprise stretched into Queens and Westchester Counties.

Sixteen members and associates of a drug organization allegedly headed by Luis F. Rosario have been charged in connection with the alleged conspiracy to sell narcotics.

A grand jury already has indicted fourteen of those who've been arrested. At least three other suspects are still being sought.

District Attorney Johnson said, "The drug traffickers in the Hunts Point area have been dealt a crippling blow and we will keep the pressure on. The strike against this operation should result in an improved quality of life for the hard working and law abiding residents of the neighborhoods."

Police Commissioner Howard Safir said, "Today's announcement is the culmination of a lengthy investigation into a major cocaine and heroin ring which, for too long, plagued the Hunts Point community. I want to thank and congratulate each and every participating member of this investigative team for their collective commitment to removing drug traffickers from our neighborhoods and to helping Hunts Point residents reclaim their streets."

During the course of the year and a half long investigation, Detectives from the NYPD's Bronx Narcotics Major Case Unit recovered more than 205 pounds of uncut cocaine, over 7 pounds of uncut heroin, more than 15 thousand glassine envelopes of heroin and over 9 thousand glassine envelopes of cocaine.

It is alleged that the nerve center of Rosario's retail drug operation was an abandoned building at 875 Hunts Point Avenue where heroin and cocaine were sold respectively under the brand names "Beef" and "Two Star". The drug operation was located across the street from the Quick Stop Deli, which the 32 year old Rosario owned and operated.

Rosario was arrested on September 13, 1997 in Westchester County at an apartment in New Rochelle at 701-703 Pelham Road, which was used to prepare and package the narcotics for sale. Authorities confiscated over 7 pounds of heroin and 8 ounces of cocaine. Also arrested was Rosario's girlfriend, 39 year old Miranda Rosario.

On July 10, 1997 investigators seized 205 pounds of cocaine packed in three television set cartons that security guards interdicted at Kennedy Airport. The cocaine, which has an estimated street value of over $34,000,000, was being transported to New York from Puerto Rico.

Following is a list of defendants arrested and the charges they are facing:

      The following are the maximum sentence for each charge upon conviction.

District Attorney Johnson praised the efforts of the NYPD's Major Case Unit of the Bronx Narcotics Division including Lt. Paul Daly, Sergeant Ronald Mejias and Detective Wilfred Pinkney.

Mr. Johnson also thanked Assistant District Attorney Edward Friedenthal, Chief of the Investigation Division's Major Case Task Force, Assistant District Attorney Jane Zwirn, Supervisor of the Major Case Task Force and Assistant District Attorneys Eric Hirsch and Patricia Leonard for their hard work.