New York City DEA agents wrapped up a months-long investigation seizing
approximately 28 pounds of alleged heroin from a drug stash house
in the North Riverdale section of the Bronx on Nov. 4.
Photo courtesy Kati Kornell
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, N BTR OV. 12-18, 2021 3
BY ROBBIE SEQUEIRA
New York City DEA agents
wrapped up a months-long investigation
last week, seizing approximately
28 pounds of alleged
heroin — with an estimated
street value of approximately $4
million — and three guns from
a drug stash house in the North
Riverdale section of the Bronx
on Thursday, Nov. 4.
Harris Wilson Sanchez, 54,
and Hinguenbert Deleon, 36,
were arrested after evading arrest
when DEA’s Tactical Diversion
Squad New York offi cials
performed a court-authorized
search in a third-fl oor apartment
at 5775 Mosholu Ave., and
recovered 12 brick-shaped packages
and one cylindrical package
from a storage container in a
bedroom closet.
Both were arrested when
they arrived back to the premises
at 6 p.m. and were arraigned
in Manhattan Criminal Court
over the weekend. Sanchez had
an outstanding warrant from
the U.S. Marshals Service dating
back to 2013.
The men drove off and members
of DEA followed, and when
offi cers attempted to stop the
SUV, the vehicle sped away.
According to law enforcement,
the duo returned to the
area shortly after 6 p.m. where
members of the Tactical Diversion
Squad placed the two men
under arrest. Also located in the
closet was a metal case containing
three pistols, one of them
loaded.
Agents and offi cers recovered
a money-counter and more
than 200 cartridges of ammunition
of various calibers from
the bedroom. A kilo press, used
in the packaging of narcotics,
was also found in the apartment,
along with a small quantity of alleged
cocaine and some cash.
New York City’s Special Narcotics
Prosecutor Bridget G.
Brennan told the Bronx Times
on Monday that the number of
guns and ammunition found in
the seizure is a disturbing trend
of recent busts.
“Historically, we don’t see
fi rearms that often when we do
a seizure of this magnitude,” she
said.
As New York City offi cials
continue to address gun safety
and the prevalence of gun violence
in the fi ve boroughs, Brennan
said that an escalating effect
of who’s arming themselves and
the source of the guns has been a
focus for law enforcement.
“There are a lot more guns
on the street but understanding
where they are coming from is
one of the questions that investigators
and law enforcement
are still trying to fi gure out,” she
said.
In the hours leading up to the
court-authorized search, agents
and offi cers were conducting
surveillance in the vicinity of
the six-story residential building
and surveillance teams observed
Sanchez, toting a bag
and entering a 2021 Volkswagen
Touareg SUV at approximately
3 p.m. Deleon was already inside
the vehicle, and agents and offi
cers recognized the pair from
more than a month of prior surveillance,
during which time the
men were seen going in and out
of the apartment building.
“Illegal drugs continue to
threaten lives at record pace,”
stated DEA Special Agent in
Charge Ray Donovan. “As guns
are continually recovered in
our investigations, it is evidently
clear that gun violence and drug
traffi cking are two public safety
threats that go hand in hand.”
While North Riverdale —
a Bronx area with crime rates
49% lower than the national average
— is not seen as a regular
area for drug busts such as these,
Brennan said that there is a tactical
component to a stash being
located in relatively safe communities.
“We find that people who traffic
a high amount of drugs like
this are clever and are always
looking to escape detection by
any means,” she said. “In this
case, they may see Riverdale as a
safer community with little police
activity or also may be looking to
get away from people who would
be interested in robbing them of
$4 million worth of product.”
Heroin, guns seized at
North Riverdale apartment
/agewellnewyork.com
