Federal authorities have charged 26 people with operating an international narcotics ring that also trafficked in steroids, untaxed cigarettes and counterfeit sneakers.
Officials say the group operated in several cities in northern New Jersey as well as Brooklyn and Staten Island, N.Y., but had links to criminal enterprises in Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Canada as well as other cities in the U.S.
FBI agents say they were able to infiltrate the organization and buy more than 30,000 ecstasy pills, 2{ kilos of heroin and weapons. The group also is accused of importing cocaine, marijuana, OxyCodone and anabolic steroids.
Authorities also seized two airplanes believed to have been used to smuggle the contraband.
