NEW YORK, USA. – Federal agents from the National Security and the Department of Police (NYPD), arrested 16 suspects for drug and weapon trafficking, including several alleged members of the Los Trinitarios gang in blocks and businesses in Upper Manhattan early Wednesday morning.
The officers, carrying automatic long guns and sophisticated equipment, targeted the areas of 174th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, 152nd Street and Broadway, and Audubon, where they apprehended the suspects.
Two of the defendants are still on the run and eight were identified as Alexander Francisco (Javy), Arístides Ramírez (AR), David Glover, Alex García (AG), Aneudy Alvarado (Smiley), Jeriel Abreu (Jerry Gunz), Lazareth Paulino (Laz), Joan Mercedes (Saúl) and Emmanuel Liriano (Chubster and Eman), who were charged before Judge Sarah L. Cave in the Southern District Federal Court in Manhattan.
Christopher Santos (Casper), was arrested previously, Alvin Eusebio (Goo), Edward Rodríguez, and Jawan Mills (JD), were already in prison in other jurisdictions.
Ray Eduardo, Jonathan Rodríguez, and Eddy Caminero (Malibú), are still on the run and are being sought with arrest warrants from Federal Judge Gregory H. Woods.
Among the businesses raided were the “Superman Barber Shop” and the “Legendary Juice Bar” located in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood.
A statement from Manhattan U.S. Attorney, Damian Williams explains that the defendants carried out the dirty operations based in Upper Manhattan, carrying weapons and running a “street pharmacy” in which they sold heroin, crack, and fentanyl.
The gang trafficked drugs from 2019 to this January 2023.
The drug traffickers established specific schedules and scheduled distributors to work specific shifts while ensuring that the drug market was supplied with methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, crack, fentanyl, Oxycodone, Xanax, and marijuana, prosecutors added.
The operation was sophisticated enough that when a distributor missed a shift, the bosses would require a doctor’s note or a positive COVID-19 test.
Those arrested on 174th Street are charged with drug and weapon trafficking and facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
“The success of today’s operation represents another important step in our ongoing effort to combat drug trafficking and gun use in the city of New York and also reinforces our commitment to our law enforcement partners,” said Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent in Charge of National Security Investigations, in a statement after the raid.
“I am proud of the extensive investigative work of our agents to stop these members of the 174th Street-based Washington Heights gang, which is known for trafficking narcotics and possessing firearms,” Arvelo added.
U.S. Attorney Williams added that as alleged in the indictment, the defendants injected substantial amounts of narcotics into the community, putting dangerous drugs on the streets and lives in danger, and now face federal charges for their crimes.
The operation also extended to New Jersey.
The raids concluded around 6:00 am.
