Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Monday, Nov. 27, that three men have been charged with operating a fentanyl mill in the Mt. Hope section of The Bronx, supplying traffickers in the New York metropolitan area.

In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “The defendants allegedly operated a fentanyl mill that packaged thousands of glassine envelopes of the drug that continues to rip apart families and kill people in our community. I thank our partners at the DEA and DETF for their work with us to shut down this factory.”

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said, “This investigation is another example of how fentanyl mills feed deadly poison to drug trafficking organizations throughout New York City and the Northeast. The DEA New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, Group T-41 and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office worked tirelessly to shut down this one-stop-fentanyl shop where the defendants cut, packaged, and delivered their product with no concern to public safety.”

He added, “Fentanyl continues to be DEA’s priority and is the most urgent threat to public health. I commend our partners at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police for their collaboration in our fight to save lives.”

They were charged with second-degree conspiracy, first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a firearm, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and possession of ammunition.

The defendants are due back in court on Feb. 5, 2024. A third defendant, Darlin Garcia, 33, of Passaic NJ, will be arraigned on charges on Nov. 30.

According to the investigation, on Oct. 19, the defendants were in an apartment in 55 East 179^th Street in the Mt. Hope section of The Bronx, where they were allegedly importing fentanyl through Pennsylvania and Connecticut and packaging it for distribution. Prosecutors said investigators found around 8,500 glassine envelopes of fentanyl, packaging materials, and a loaded handgun inside the apartment.

They said Lopez was observed handing glassines of fentanyl to Garcia in a vehicle outside of the location. They said Garcia was later arrested and approximately 20,000 glassines of fentanyl were recovered. The estimated street value of the drugs is around $300,000.