Six Arrested in Massive Illegal Cannabis Operation in NYC
Authorities have arrested six individuals in New York City after dismantling an unlicensed marijuana smuggling operation, which resulted in the confiscation of over 2,000 pounds of cannabis valued at more than $2.5 million.
The suspects reportedly used large tractor-trailers to transport the marijuana from California to a SecureSpace self-storage facility in Maspeth, officials confirmed on Friday.
The seized products were intended for division and further distribution, either through another storage unit or direct sales to consumers, according to law enforcement sources.
This illicit operation is believed to have been active since April. The investigation was a joint effort involving the Queens District Attorney’s office, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Field Division, and the New York City Sheriff’s NYPD Cannabis Task Force.
Authorities discovered nearly 2,000 pounds of THC flower, alongside hundreds of pre-packed one-pound bags of marijuana, pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes, and approximately 1,000 pounds of THC vape pens during searches executed in Maspeth and Long Island City on Thursday.
The arrested individuals include Eduardo Lopez, 29, and Courtney Ferguson, 40, from Manhattan; Erzhena Mitupova, 34, and Anna Migal, 47, both residing in Kew Gardens; as well as 24-year-olds Jose Carbajal Enamorado of Jackson Heights and Emerson Ramos Garcia of Bayside. Officials stated none of these individuals possessed the necessary licenses to sell cannabis in New York.
All six suspects now face charges of first-degree criminal possession of cannabis. A Queens judge mandated their return to criminal court on various dates in September and October for further proceedings.
If found guilty, each defendant could face a maximum sentence ranging from 2 ⅓ years to seven years in prison. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz commented on the bust, emphasizing that illegal THC products can pose significant risks to community safety, highlighting the importance of the stringent approval processes for legal dispensaries.
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