NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Narcotics officials on Wednesday announced a 29-year-old man was indicted after 13 pounds of cocaine and over $50,000 in cash were seized from his car in November.
Reynaldo Almonte of Queens, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees.
At about 6:30 p.m. on November 28, officials conducting surveillance near the intersection of Seneca Avenue and George Street in Ridgewood allegedly observed Almonte enter the driver's seat of a burgundy Nissan sports car carrying what appeared to be a weighed shopping bag.
Agents allegedly watched as Almonte reached into the rear cabin of the Nissan which was registered in his name, and bore a New Jersey license plate, and appeared to be moving objects around.
Officers then followed Almonte as he drove off and travelled to the vicinity of East 178th Street and Daly Avenue in the West Farms neighborhood of the Bronx, where he double-parked at approximately 7:45 p.m.
Officials then approached the car, finding Almonte in the driver's seat, and a bag on the floor in the front passenger area which later proved to contain approximately over $50,000.
Almonte and his vehicle were transported to DEA New York Division's Westchester Resident Office where they searched his car with assistance from a K-9 unit, and found a hidden trap compartment in the rear passenger cabin.
Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York
Within the hidden trap, agents discovered six kilogram-sized packages wrapped in plastic, along with approximately $7,000 cash.
One of the labels on the packages bore a photo of President Joe Biden. Other packages included a photo of a cat and the letters "AMG."
Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York
Preliminary field-testing also indicated that the packages contained cocaine estimated to have a street value of approximately $300,000.
"Similar to business marketing, drug traffickers brand their deadly product in various ways using hot topic photos, logos, or stamps referencing pop culture and current events," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. " These six kilograms would be repackaged into thousands of baggies sold on our New York City streets."
Almonte was released on a $300,000 partially secured bail bond on December 8.
"Cocaine continues to be significant factor in overdose deaths in New York City. Cocaine has always posed significant health risks, but it is now commonly mixed with fentanyl, methamphetamine and other deadly substances, increasing risks to users, Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said. "Taking thirteen pounds of cocaine off of our streets will save precious lives."
