Contractor Stumbles On Multi-Million Dollar Drug Ring, Arsenal

Enough Fentanyl, Weapons to Kill Scores of People - Queens DA Says 

A contractor discovered a multi-million dollar drug ring operating out of an abandoned house in Queens borough. -Photo by Queens DA

By Dan Gesslein 

NYC News Network 

November 1, 2023 

NEW YORK - A contractor made a frightening discovery while working in a quiet Queens neighborhood. The Queens DA said the contractor discovered millions of dollars worth of drugs, including deadly fentanyl, as well as a cache of weapons in an abandoned house. 

According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the contractor stumbled on a $10 Million drug ring operating out of a house in the quiet Bellrose section of Queens borough. Prosecutors said deadly opioids such as fentanyl as well as heroin and cocaine were in the home. Cops also recovered several handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

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“One can’t even calculate how many lives would have been cut short or ruined by the millions of dollars worth of lethal narcotics and deadly weapons that were found,” Katz said. “What we do know for certain is that our families, friends and neighborhoods are all safer thanks to this massive seizure. We cannot and will not relent in the fight to get drugs and guns off our streets. We will prosecute any and all involved in this deadly trafficking.” 

Queens DA Melinda Katz announced an indictment in a multi-million dollar drug ring. -Photo by Queens DA

On May 30th, a contractor arrived at an abandoned house at 249-27 88^th Road following the sale of the property. Once inside the house, the contractor discovered 1.5 million glassine envelopes containing heroin or a mix of heroin and fentanyl, as well as scores of guns and ammo. 

The contractor called the police which kicked off a major investigation. Katz said the defendant was photographed running in and out of the property with two coolers in his hands. Prosecutor said the coolers held what appeared to be 15 kilos of narcotics.

 

Police executed a court-authorized search warrant on the property the next day and uncovered:

 

Approximately 1.5 million glassine envelopes containing either heroin or heroin and fentanyl with a street value of approximately $10 million;

Eight kilos of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl with a street value of approximately $500,000;

At least one plastic bag with a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and the opioid pain medicine tramadol;

Thousands of empty glassine envelopes;

Three kilo presses commonly used by narcotics traffickers to package large quantities of drugs;

Two respirator masks used in the production and packaging of illegal narcotics;

Two electronic scales;

Five loaded P80 9 mm ghost gun semiautomatic pistols;

One loaded 9 mm Derringer semiautomatic pistol;

One loaded .38-caliber revolver;

One loaded Glock 17 9 mm semiautomatic pistol;

One loaded Sig Sauer 9 mm pistol;

One loaded .38-caliber Derringer semiautomatic pistol;

One loaded Smith and Wesson 9 mm semiautomatic pistol;

One loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol;

Five complete ghost gun kits, including unfinished frames that had not yet been made into operable firearms;

25 high-capacity ammunition feeding devices;

Over 200 rounds of assorted ammunition including 9mm, .40 caliber, and .38 caliber;

A handheld Dremel drill, used to manufacture and/or assemble ghost guns;

A DVR digital recorder;

Four cellphones;

Two parking summonses for a Blue Infiniti SUV that were tied to Victor Rodriguez.

Prosecutors charged Victor Rodriguez of Jamaica Queens with 112-count indictment charging him with operating as a major trafficker; conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees; three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree; four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree; four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree; two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree; burglary in the first degree; criminal possession of  a weapon in the first degree; 26 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; 10 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree; 12 counts of aggravated criminal possession of a weapon; 39 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; manufacture, transport, disposition and defacement of weapon and dangerous instruments and appliance; five counts of attempted criminal possession of a firearm; and unlawful possession of pistol ammunition.

If convicted, Rodriguez faces 25 years to life in prison. Queens Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino ordered Rodriguez to return to court on November 6.

NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “The NYPD and our law enforcement partners will never waver in our commitment to rid our city of illegal narcotics and the traffickers responsible for putting New Yorkers’ lives at risk. At the forefront of our public safety mission is holding accountable anyone who displays the depravity to sell these deadly poisons on our streets. I commend and thank the NYPD officers from the 105^th Precinct and our Intelligence Bureau, along with everyone involved at the office of the Queens District Attorney, for their tireless efforts on this important case.”

Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.