A team of NYPD narcotics officers conducted simultaneous drug raids in Manhattan and the Bronx on Wednesday, arresting twenty alleged members of a wholesale drug ring and collecting 14 firearms, 14 kilograms of heroin, more than $100,000 in cash and a gallon of liquified PCP from fifteen apartments, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
All 20 defendants were indicted Thursday, and charged with various counts of conspiracy and criminal sale of a controlled substance. Wayne "Bump" Green was allegedly in charge of the operation, overseeing the heroin supply from packaging to money collection. His partner Ruben "Whitey" Gonzalez allegedly handled phone orders and arranged deliveries. Another defendant, Amado Vega, Jr., allegedly maintained a storage location in the Bronx, while Christopher Morris "tested and maintained the quality of the organization’s heroin," according to the DA's office. The News reports that the heroin was sold as "Thriller," “Crush,” “OMG” and “Pepsi."
"With more than one fatal opioid overdose each day, New York City's heroin crisis is on the rise and reaching epidemic proportions," said Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance in a statement.
In a separate conspiracy, Green, Gonzalez and Vega Jr. maintained a PCP stash. The bulk arrests marked the end of a 20-month investigation into both operations, and also reportedly turned up eight watches, some gold chains, and a small fleet of BMWs and Nissan Maximas.
Recounting the bust to reporters this week, Deputy Chief Lori Pollock said that the NYPD was "dealing with people who have guns under their pillows."
