An undercover law enforcement investigation that began with a large cocaine sale resulted in the arrest of two middle-aged men and the seizure of a gun and nearly 25 pounds of narcotics, including what appeared to be heroin/fentanyl and oxycodone pills, as well as methamphetamine, federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday, July 16.

 

They said Bronx man, Carlos Torres, 56, and a second person, Martin Figueroa, 66, of Stamford, CT, were arrested on Friday, July 12, and arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court over the weekend. They added that members of the New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force uncovered the large cache of narcotics in a basement apartment located to the west of the Parkchester neighborhood of The Bronx.

 

A criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) charges Torres with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees, criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second, third and fourth degrees, criminal possession of a firearm, and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree. Figueroa, is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first degree.

 

Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s SNP, Frank A. Tarentino III, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York division, New York Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban, and NYS Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced the arrests on Tuesday following an arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.

 

Reacting to the seizure and arrests, Brennan said, “These arrests illustrate dangerous trends. Drug traffickers are simultaneously peddling many different dangerous substances, sometimes interchangeably, and buyers have no way of knowing what they are getting. The ‘Playboy’ and ‘Tesla’ stamps demonstrate another disturbing practice – attractive labels disguising potentially deadly substances.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Tarentino, who said, “These arrests are a result of an undercover operation the DEA New York conducted with our law enforcement partners. I commend the quick action of our team in the removal of over 20 pounds of illicit narcotics and a gun off our streets. Anytime a firearm is recovered during an operation, it is a stark reminder of the dangers we face when targeting these organizations.”

 

The investigation was conducted by Strike Force Group Z-43, comprised of agents and officers from DEA New York Division, the NYPD, and the New York State Police.

 

As alleged in the complaint, over the past week, Torres engaged in narcotics-related conversations with an undercover officer to arrange the sale of two kilograms (over four pounds) of cocaine. On July 11, at around 5 p.m., the undercover agent was at the agreed meeting place, 1460 St. Lawrence Avenue to the east of Parkchester and to the south of Van Nest in The Bronx, and saw Figueroa on the roof of an adjacent garage.

 

The court heard that Figueroa allegedly threw a black bag to Torres, who was standing in the outdoor yard of 1460 St. Lawrence Avenue, and Torres then allegedly met with the undercover in a vehicle. Prosecutors said members of Strike Force Group Z-43 subsequently apprehended both arrestees in the yard and recovered the black bag containing two kilograms of cocaine.

 

They said the investigation led agents and officers to the basement of 1460 St. Lawrence Avenue, where they allegedly recovered a 9 mm pistol with an extended magazine and quantities of cocaine from an open box, and additional quantities of cocaine from a bathroom.

According to the prosecution, agents and officers obtained a court authorized search warrant for the basement apartment at 1460 St. Lawrence Avenue and in a bag in a hallway in the apartment, they found approximately seven kilograms (nearly 15 pounds) of suspected heroin/fentanyl, some of which was packaged in glassines bearing the brand names “Play boy” and “Tesla.”

 

Playboy is an American men’s “lifestyle and entertainment” magazine, formerly in print and currently online, which regularly features nude models, founded by Hugh Hefner and associates. Tesla, Inc. is an American automotive, clean energy company which designs, manufactures and sells battery electric vehicles, stationary battery energy storage devices and related products and services. One of its founders is billionaire, Elon Musk, who recently bought the social media platform, X, formerly Twitter.

 

There is no suggestion or indication from federal prosecutors that either Playboy or Tesla, Inc. or any of their associates or employees were in any way involved in the referenced narcotics operation. A red / orange replica of the official “Playboy” logo, which is a black bunny head wearing a bowtie, does appear on the packaging of at least some of the recovered drugs, along with the words “Play boy”.

 

Prosecutors said additional kilograms of what appeared to be cocaine and methamphetamine were found in the hallway and in the ceiling, and a bag of oxycodone pills was recovered from a filing cabinet in the living room. They said the apartment also contained equipment and materials used in packaging heroin/fentanyl, including scales, glassine envelopes and razor blades.

Reacting to the seizure and arrests, Caban said, “Disrupting this packaging and distribution operation in the Bronx prevented deadly narcotics from reaching the streets and neighborhoods of New York City and, without a doubt, saved lives. Stopping the flow of illegal drugs into our communities remains one of the top priorities of NYPD investigators and our invaluable law enforcement partners, and this fight will continue every day until all New Yorkers are safe.”

 

Meanwhile, for his part, James said, “The arrests in this case are part of a continuing strategy and collaboration between law enforcement agencies to disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics in New York City and surrounding communities. I appreciate the work of our members and our strike force partners in this case. We have absolutely zero tolerance for this kind of illegal activity.”

 

The results of DEA laboratory analysis on the seized drugs are pending, according to federal prosecutors. The arraigning judge in Manhattan Criminal Court set bail for Torres at $750,000 cash or bond, and Figueroa was released on his own recognizance. Both are deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, and commended the SNP’s special trial division, DEA New York division, the New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force, the NYPD, and the New York State Police for their work on the investigation.