What to Know
- More than 100 pounds of what is believed to be cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and other drugs worth a total of about $4 million was seized from the Mexzzarella Pizza shop in the Soundview neighborhood
- What was described as "a large stash of cocaine" was found in the pizzeria's basement, with Tarentino saying that the drug cache "had the potential to supply drug networks throughout the Northeast
- Inside the shop, the DEA said agents officers found 42 kilograms of suspected cocaine, as well as large rocks of cocaine. There was also a kilogram of heroin mixed with fentanyl, 1,000 glassine envelopes containing suspected oxycodone and fentanyl, and about $40,000 in cash from the basement
Alleged drug traffickers at a Bronx pizzeria are getting a slice of justice after an investigation found they were making extra dough by selling a variety of illegal substances.
More than 100 pounds of what is believed to be cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and other drugs worth a total of about $4 million was seized from the Mexzzarella Pizza shop in the Soundview neighborhood on Thursday, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with three people now facing charges.
Gaudencio Rosendo Perez, Zulema Cardenas Espinoza, and Alexander Samboy were arrested following an investigation into what the DEA said was a sophisticated drug trafficking operation run across the street from a public elementary school, PS 69.
"This drug trafficking organization was cooking up more than pizza," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino.
All three were charged with operating as a major trafficker and possession of a controlled substance, then were arraigned before a judge on Friday. Perez was remanded, while bail was set at $150,000 for Espinoza and Samboy, both of whom were ordered to surrender their passports.
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What was described as "a large stash of cocaine" was found in the pizzeria's basement, with Tarentino saying that the drug cache "had the potential to supply drug networks throughout the Northeast." Tarentino added that cocaine being laced with fentanyl has led to an increase in drug-related poisonings and deaths in New York and across the U.S.
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Inside the shop, the DEA said federal agents and task force officers found 42 kilograms of suspected cocaine, as well as large rocks of cocaine. There was also a kilogram of heroin mixed with fentanyl, 1,000 glassine envelopes containing suspected oxycodone and fentanyl, and about $40,000 in cash from the basement, according to law enforcement.
About 100 vials of suspected crack cocaine — which were stored near the pizza counter for convenient sales or to give samples to customers — and a yellow powdery substance were found on the ground floor as well, the DEA said.
"This highly profitable Bronx based narcotics operation appeared to operate as a wholesaler and distributor of cocaine and fentanyl laced products, and was advertised as an 'inexpensive' Mexican pizza spot," said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said that the fentanyl and heroin was alleged "being stored and mixed near food" in the pizza shop, which she called "yet another example of drug traffickers’ utmost disregard for the health and safety of our community in order in order to feed their greed."
Attorney information for the trio was not immediately available.
