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Suffolk County drug, weapons trafficking bust nets 21 arrests
During an investigation that spanned 16 months in Suffolk County, both firearms and fentanyl were discovered in connection with drugs and weapons.
District Attorney Raymond Tierney reported that during the investigation, approximately 268 grams of fentanyl were found by law enforcement, of which a lethal dose could result in the deaths of 134,000 individuals.
Tierney states that a significant number of accused individuals are associated with the Nine Trey Bloods gang and are facing charges for participating in a plot to possess and distribute illegal narcotics and firearms.
Tierney held bail reform laws accountable for allowing defendants to avoid accountability for their actions.
He stated that they were only able to pursue bail for 11 out of the 21 people who were taken into custody.
The Suffolk District Attorney’s office reports that fentanyl is involved in 92 percent of the reported opioid-related fatal overdoses in the county. Experts in the field of drug abuse consider it a crisis and argue that additional measures must be taken.
Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds from Family and Children’s Association has compared the issue to whack-a-mole, stating that every time a dealer is removed, another one will appear. He believes that in order to tackle the root of the problem, a multi-pronged approach is necessary and should include reducing the demand for these kinds of drugs.
Among the apprehended were street-level dealers and wholesalers. Authorities discovered various drug storage areas, one of which was a modified trap door located in a residential property, while the other was hidden beneath a car seat. Besides this, mixing equipment for narcotics and remedy for possible overdoses (Narcan) were also uncovered by the police.
Tierney warned, "We will pursue those who distribute illicit and harmful drugs, as well as utilize firearms unlawfully in Suffolk, and they will be held accountable."
As reported by officials, 3 kilograms of fentanyl were recently seized by Nassau County, an amount deemed sufficient to cause the death of more than 2 million individuals.
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