what to know
- Two people face a series of charges related to the seizure of approximately 300,000 fentanyl pills in a variety of colors in the Bronx.
- Some of the fentanyl pills resembled drugs, such as oxycodone and Xanax.
- Lorenzo and Rodríguez-Pichardo were due to appear in court on Wednesday.
NEW YORK – Authorities announced Wednesday that two people are facing a series of charges related to the seizure of approximately 300,000 fentanyl pills in a variety of colors, along with another 20 pounds of powdered fentanyl from a drug stash. the Bronx.
Jefry Rodríguez-Pichardo, 32, and Erickson Lorenzo, 30, were taken into custody on charges at around 6:10 am on Friday. While members of the DEA Long Island District Office Task Force conducted a court-authorized search of 4030 Bronx Boulevard, Apt.3G, Lorenzo was allegedly inside a bedroom of the third-floor apartment, while Rodríguez-Pichardo was allegedly in another room hanging on a windowsill with no fire escape.
The apartment is located off the Bronx River Parkway, near the Westchester County border. Along with the drug, the agents found a Tec-9 semi-automatic assault weapon, a hydraulic gate opener and 11 GPS devices. There was also an extended magazine and ammo box in the hall closet.
Some of the fentanyl pills resembled drugs, such as oxycodone and Xanax.
“There is no doubt that this poisonous attack of fentanyl saved lives,” said DEA special agent Frank Tarentino. “Hundreds of thousands of deadly pills were waiting in a Bronx apartment to be unleashed on our streets. In today’s world, the potential for overdose is dangerously high. There is no quality control on these fake pills and it only takes two milligrams of fentanyl to be lethal. The men and women of the DEA are working tirelessly to keep these deadly drugs and associated violence off our streets and our most vulnerable. These drug traffickers are brazen, but they will be held accountable. I congratulate the members of our Long Island DEA District Office and the New York City Special Attorney’s Office for Narcotics for their hard work in this investigation. “
The size of this large dwarf candy-colored fentanyl stash is that of another “rainbow fentanyl” seizure announced in New York last week and further illustrates the drug dealers’ latest marketing tactics to entice the public by deceiving them about the potentially lethal content of pills being sold. On the road.
DEA Division of New York
Most of these pills have been sorted by color and stored in large zip lock bags. A large black garbage bag contained up to 100,000 pills in a variety of colors and shapes, all mixed up, according to officials.
Bridget G. Brennan, New York City Special Attorney for Drugs, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in charge of the New York Division of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Nassau County District Attorney Anne T Donnelly, and Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced the arrests on Friday.
Lorenzo and Rodríguez-Pichardo were due to appear in court on Wednesday.
The DEA laboratory tests on the seized drugs are underway. Preliminary tests have indicated the presence of fentanyl.
“I am grateful to Office of Special Narcotics Attorney Bridget Brennan and the Drug Enforcement Administration, our partners in the battle against fentanyl distribution, for banning this massive amount of toxic drug,” said the Bronx District Attorney. Darcel D. Clark. “Colored pills of a deadly drug, which is claiming so many lives in the Bronx and around the city, is another obscure marketing tool used by drug traffickers.”
