Suffolk police busted 18 members of a cocaine trafficking ring which included Bloods members, counterfeit money, backstabbing, and fake cocaine made from sheetrock and baking soda. Police seized about $16,000 to $18,000 worth of cocaine, several thousand dollars worth of counterfeit $20 bills, black and white hats and T-shirts labeled "Police," and a stun gun disguised as a cell phone. "The lifeblood of gangs is the illicit narcotics trade. The profits they generate contribute to other illegal activity...This is not just the sale and distribution of cocaine. It's far more than that," District Attorney Thomas Spota said ominously.
Five of the suspects were identified as Bloods members; two handguns found on the men were linked to shootings in the LI area. Police believe the gang had planned to disguise themselves as police to commit robberies. As for the 26 ounces of fake cocaine, authorities believe the ring had used $16,000 in counterfeit cash to buy the drugs from NYC dealers; but unknowingly, they were duped by the other dealers. "While they thought they were ripping off the drug dealers in New York City, the people in New York City were ripping them off. There's no honor among thieves," said DA Spota. NYC drug dealers: still the savviest crooks around!
