NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The largest know heroin trafficking ring in Nassau County history has been broken up, according to authorities on Tuesday. The bust included the arrests of 15 people who they say sold between 13,000 and 26,000 doses of heroin per month and the seizing of cash and $1.2 million worth of heroin.
Law enforcement agencies began the investigation that stemmed from a tip received four months ago, that connected two alleged drug lords who sold between 1,300 to 2,600 individual doses of heroin per month."This massive operation has dismantled the largest known heroin trafficking operation in Nassau County, disrupting the flow of this deadly poison into our communities," said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, during a news conference in Mineola.The probe, according to Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas caught the man believed to be the largest trafficker of heroin on Long Island, 40-year-old Luis Rivera, as well as his cousin, 36-year-old Orlando Rodriguez, both of Brooklyn. Officials say the heroin distributed byt Rodriguez is tied to 15 overdoses -13 in Nassau and two in Suffolk with three of them being fatal.
According to Singas, Rivera and Rodriguez allegedly made at least $30,000 a week selling the drugs from the parking lot of the Gateway Shopping Center in Brooklyn and the drug ring sold to about 75 customers, including 54 from Nassau County and 16 from Suffolk.
Police say Rivera allegedly accepted Jordan sneakers as payment for the drugs on at least one occasion.
Authorities conducted raids at their shared apartment in East New York on Dec. 13, where investigators found 175 pairs of Jordan sneakers their home.
Police say the sneakers are valued at approximately $325,000.
Police also raided a stash house located in Flushing, Queens, and seized money and drugs from two safety deposit boxes.
A Honda Pilot used by the alleged drug ring leaders was also seized there, and police say there was a hidden trap inside the console, where heroin, cocaine and cash were found by investigators.
A total of $1.2 million in cash was found, officials say.
Rivera was charged with two counts of operating as a major trafficker, four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, 25 counts of conspiracy in the fourth degree and conspiracy in the second degree. He is due back in court Dec. 27.Rodriguez was charged with two counts of operating as a major trafficker and 25 counts of conspiracy in the fourth degree and is due back in court on Dec. 27.Mitchell Elman, the attorney for Rivera, Rodriguez and Melito, declined to comment.
Among the 13 others arrested was 30-year-old Joseph Melito, of Albertson, who was charged with being a major trafficker.Lawyers for the three men did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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