An investigation into a major narcotics distributor resulted in the seizure of approximately 12 kilograms (more than 26 pounds) of cocaine and over $3 million cash from an apartment in the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx and the arrest of one 60-year-old man on March 19, federal prosecutors announed on Friday, March 22. They said narcotics and money were concealed inside several pieces of furniture outfitted with hidden trap compartments.

 

Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division (NY), New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven G. James, and New York City Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban announced the arrest and seizure following an arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.

A criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) charges Juan Rondon with operating as a major trafficker and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees. At an arraignment on March 21, a Manhattan Criminal Court judge ordered Rondon be held without bail. Federal prosecutors said that as stated in court, Rondon was previously deported in 2006.

 

In the context of the announcement, Brennan said, “This investigation shows how lucrative the cocaine trafficking business can be. Over a span of years, an accused major trafficker apparently squirreled away more than $3 million, filling secret compartments inside furniture to the brim with bundles of cash wrapped together in rubber bands, expensive watches, and kilograms of cocaine.”

She added, “An absence of special security equipment or fortified locks on the nondescript apartment suggests misguided confidence. Investigative savvy and perseverance, with some canine assistance, netted the narcotics proceeds and prevented millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine from hitting the streets of New York City and surrounding areas.”

 

For her part, Clark said, “The arrest of a major regional drug distributor based in The Bronx turned up more than $3 million cash, a wealth of luxury watches, and more than 26 pounds of cocaine in a Norwood apartment. This shows how prevalent and lucrative the drug trade remains. I thank Special Narcotics Bridget Brennan and her team for their work on this case as well as our federal and state partners for their continued vigilance and focus on ridding the Bronx community of major drug traffickers.”

Federal officials said Rondon was arrested on Wednesday, March 20, at around 4:40 p.m., following a two-month investigation by the SNP Investigators Unit, the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, Group T-23, and the New York State Police Troop K, Violent Gangs and Narcotics Enforcement Team (VGNET). NYDETF Group T-23 is comprised of agents and officers from DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the New York State Police.

 

Norwood News had been tipped off about a large amount of police activity on Decatur Avenue on Wednesday and when we followed up with federal prosecutors and the NYPD, we received no information, though the NYPD said they would only receive details from federal authorities on the execution of a warrant.

On the day of the arrest, investigators and agents were conducting surveillance outside 3405 Gates Place when they allegedly observed Rondon enter the building carrying a bag and then exit with the same bag a short time later. Federal officials said he subsequently returned to the building empty handed.

 

They said that at around 4:40 p.m., investigators and agents observed Rondon leave 3405 Gates Place, Apt. 2A for a second time and stopped him in the lobby. They said he was allegedly in possession of a quantity of cocaine and the keys to Apartment 2A.

They went on to say that investigators and agents conducted a court-authorized search of 3405 Gates Place, Apt. 2A with assistance from a New York State Police K9 Unit and discovered several pieces of furniture were outfitted with secret trap compartments. Dressers, nightstands, and a coffee table contained large hidden compartments stuffed with bags of cash. Money was wrapped in bundles and labeled with dates spanning the past several years.

 

They said the coffee table allegedly contained approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine and some of the cash, and at least 10 luxury watches, including those made by Rolex and Cartier, were recovered from a hidden trap in a nightstand. Despite the large amounts of money, narcotics, and jewelry present, they said the apartment appeared to lack security equipment or fortifications.

They said the results of DEA laboratory analysis on the seized narcotics are pending.

 

Of the latest seizure, Tarentino said, “A multi-million-dollar drug den looked like any ordinary apartment until our agents and investigators uncovered hidden compartments in various pieces of furniture filled with contraband. Over 12 kilos of cocaine and over three million dollars of drug proceeds were seized as part of this ongoing investigation. I applaud the diligent work of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force and Special Narcotics Prosecutor by removing this cocaine from the distribution pipeline throughout the Northeast.”

Meanwhile, James said, “A cumulative effort among law enforcement partners has once again resulted in a massive seizure of deadly drugs. Not only did this interception save lives, but it also put an end to the violence that is often associated with drug trafficking. The New York State Police will continue to work vigilantly alongside our partners to put dangerous individuals like Mr. Rondon behind bars.”

 

Federal prosecutors said Rondon has been charged with one count of operating as a major trafficker, one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, and three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

As previously reported by Norwood News, during the course of a separate cocaine trafficking interception and takedown by law enforcement in Yonkers on March 13, Carlos Almonte Palmers of Masachussets was arrested and faces charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees. Federal officials said Almonte Palmers was deported from New York to the Dominican Republic in 2022. At a subsequent arraignment since March 13, in Manhattan Criminal Court, a judge ordered him held without bail.

 

Also on March 22, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced that day that three people were sentenced to a combined 31 years in state prison for selling more than 30 ghost guns in Yonkers after trafficking them from Washington, D.C. to Westchester County in 2022.

 

Brennan thanked Clark and commended SNP’s investigators unit, trial division, and heroin interdiction team, DEA New York division, the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, Group T-23, the New York State Police Troop K, VGNET, and the NYPD and partner prosecution office’s for their work on the investigation.

Reacting to the seizure, for his part, Caban said, “These charges reflect New York City’s latest multiagency effort to hold accountable those allegedly responsible for flooding our neighborhoods with illicit drugs. NYPD investigators greatly value our partnership with the city’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, the New York State Police, and the DEA, and I commend every member of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force for their ongoing commitment to our shared mission of keeping New Yorkers in every community safe.”

 

Editor’s Note: Press officials for federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York previously reported that two men had been arrested in the context of the Norwood seizure and therefore this was reported in an earlier version of this story. However, upon further clarification, they said only one man, Juan Rondon, was arrested. Carlos Almonte Palmers had been previously arrested on March 13 during a separate Yonkers raid, as reported.