By Katherine King
NEW YORK, Reuter; U.S. police seized 70 – pounds (33 kilos) of pure her. with a street value of 70 million dollars in what officials said was the biggest U’S, drugs seizure in 10 years Federal, State and New York City Police found the heroin in raids on several apartments in the New York Borough of Queens, ‘cracking a ring they said averaged 450,000 dollars a week in heroin sales.
They arrested 18 people, including ringleader Carlos Medina, his wife and mother, in the raids which ended a nine month investigation.
In addition to the heroin, 4.4 pounds (two kilos) of cocaine was confiscated along with a small
Arsenal of weapons, including pistols and machineguns.
Fifty-seven pounds (25 kilos) of the heroin was found hidden in a closet at an apartment rented by Medina’s mother Paquita, police said.
Officials said the heroin, the most seized in ten years, was smuggled into New York from Belgium and France, All the accused are believed to be Puerto Ricans resident in New York City for several years
Robert Stutman, the agent in charge of the probe, said, “I think today’s massive seizure demonstrates that despite the great influx of crack into the city, the traditional heroin is still here and still a tremendous problem.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 29, 1986
