$ 12million in drugs seized from bust of ‘heroin packing factory’ in Queens

Police demolished a “large heroin packing plant” in New York this week and seized suspected drugs worth an estimated $ 12 million, authorities said on Wednesday.

Monday’s bust in Queens involved a man accused of overseeing the packaging operation and three women accused of working for him, the Drug Enforcement Administration said in a statement.

About 86 pounds, or 39 kilograms, of what is believed to be heroin and 1,000 suspected fentanyl pills were seized, officials said. Lab tests were underway, the DEA said.

Luis Martinez, who is accused of conducting the operation out of his apartment, faces charges of operating as a major trafficker and other charges. He and the three women were arrested Tuesday evening, officials said. It was not immediately clear whether they had lawyers.

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They were arrested Monday afternoon after Martinez left the apartment with a $ 200,000 backpack, officials said. Inside the apartment, police located the three women and the drug-packing operation, according to the DEA.

Authorities from several agencies involved in the bust said it would save lives. Opioid addiction and overdose deaths have been called a national crisis.

“This drug antenna contained nearly $ 12 million in narcotics and was like an opioid antipersonnel mine capable of dispersing hundreds of thousands of doses of heroin in the Northeast,” said Ray Donovan, the agent. DEA special in charge of New York, in a statement.

More than 81,000 people have died of overdoses involving drugs of all kinds in the United States in the 12 months ending in May 2020, the highest number on record in 12 months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at the end of last year.

The CDC said synthetic opioids – mostly illicitly manufactured fentanyl – appeared to be the main driver behind the increase in deaths.

Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is cheaper than heroin, is sometimes mixed with heroin to make it more potent. People may be unaware that it was added, which increases the risk of overdose, experts said.