Pizza Shop Delivers Oxy, Fentanyl Near School

$4 Million in Drugs Recovered from Bronx Pizzeria - DEA Says 

Law enforcement seized $4 Million worth of cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and more from a Bronx pizza shop. -Photo by DEA

By Dan Gesslein

NYC News Network

October 25, 2023

BRONX - A Bronx pizza place was delivering something other than pies. Federal authorities seized nearly $4 million bucks worth of drugs including cocaine and fentanyl when they struck the Soundview slice shop that was across the street from a school.

Law officials declared the capture of three individuals regarding Mexzzarella Pizza on Soundview Road opposite PS 69. Investigators said they noticed the respondents traveling in and out of the pizza shop with huge weighty bags.

After such a pickup, cops made a vehicle stop of one of the suspects which prompted the capture of five kilos of cocaine. This prompted a pursuit of the pizzeria where police and DEA officials recuperated 42 kilos of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin/fentanyl, 1,000 glassine envelopes containing suspected oxycodone and fentanyl, enormous rocks of cocaine, a kilo press, and roughly $40,000 from the storm cellar. They additionally recuperated 100 vials of suspected crack rocks. 

Investigators said the vials were put close to the counter for simple deals or to give tests to clients.

“This drug trafficking organization was cooking up more than pizza in the Bronx,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “The large stash of cocaine found in the basement of Mexzzarella Pizza is very significant because it had the potential to supply drug networks throughout the Northeast.  

“Cocaine is being laced with fentanyl, which is contributing to poisonings and unnecessary deaths in New York and across the country,” Tarentino said. “ As evident in this investigation, DEA and our law enforcement partners are continuously working together to identify and arrest drug traffickers responsible for inflicting the most harm on our communities.”  

During a press conference for the multi-organization examination, investigators reported the captures of Gaudencio Rosendo Perez, Zulema Cardenas Espinoza and Alexander Samboy. Each was accused of working as a significant dealer and in criminal posession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “This highly profitable Bronx based narcotics operation appeared to operate as a wholesaler and distributor of cocaine and fentanyl laced products and was advertised as an ‘inexpensive’ Mexican pizza spot. Investigators recovered cocaine, crack and fentanyl in bags, vials and kilo sized portions from Mexzzarella in the Soundview section. Our office will continue to work with our federal, state and local enforcement partners to stem the distribution of lethal drugs that claimed the lives of a record high number of people in our city last year.”

NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said, “This successful narcotics investigation resulted in the shutting down of a major drug trafficking organization in the Bronx and is indicative of how the NYPD and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to identify and arrest anyone who endangers our communities in this way. We will keep using our collective resources to aggressively pursue these criminals to the fullest extent of the law.”

The investigation was conducted by following an investigation by DEA Group D-43, along with New York City Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, NYPD, NYSP, and Rockland County District Attorney’s Office.  

The investigation was also assisted by the New York/New Jersey Port Authority Police Department.