Approximately 50 Pounds of Fentanyl/Heroin Seized at Drug Stash Apartment in the Bronx

 

Narcotics concealed inside coffee table outfitted with hidden trap compartment 

A Bronx man was arrested in connection with the seizure of approximately 23 kilograms of fentanyl/heroin (50 pounds) from an apartment located near Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The narcotics carry an estimated street value of $7 million. 

Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division, New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli announced the arrest following a short term investigation by the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF) Group T-21.

A criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) charges SAMUEL ROJAS-CAMACHO with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree. ROJAS-CAMACHO was arrested the night of Monday, November 7, 2022 and arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on the night of Tuesday, November 8, 2022. 

“This case illustrates how narcotics flow from state to state, with large amounts of fentanyl and heroin continuing to flood New York City. Traffickers take great pains to conceal drug shipments that sell for millions of dollars, in this case inside a table outfitted with a hidden trap compartment,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan. “Overdose rates remain at record-high levels, with the majority of deaths attributed to fentanyl.”

Special Prosecutor Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and commended SNP’s Trial Division and DEA’s NYDETF, including members of DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department and the New York State Police, for their work on the investigation. 

“This apartment contained 23 kilograms/50lbs of fentanyl/heroin concealed in a secret compartment of a coffee table,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “Removing this fentanyl/heroin from our streets is the equivalent of saving thousands of lives. Rojas-Camacho is one of many drug traffickers in our city who spread poison throughout our communities. I applaud the efforts our law enforcement officers, agents, and prosecutors who investigate and arrest those responsible for fueling drug poisonings.”

Pursuant to the investigation, agents and officers stopped a green Jaguar sedan at the southwest corner of Jerome Avenue and East 233rd Street at approximately 9 p.m. on November 7, 2022. ROJASCAMACHO was a passenger in the vehicle. The investigation revealed that he had allegedly travelled out of state that same day. ROJAS-CAMACHO had previously been observed on video surveillance entering and exiting the lobby of an apartment building located at 3535 Dekalb Avenue, a suspected drug stash location, on approximately three occasions.

At approximately 10 p.m., members of NYDETF Group T-21 arrived at 3535 Dekalb Avenue, Apt. 5B, and conducted a search, recovering approximately 11 brick-shaped packages of fentanyl/heroin containing approximately one kilogram of narcotics each, 5 hockey puck-shaped packages containing fentanyl/heroin, and a large plastic bag containing fentanyl/heroin. The packages and large bag of narcotics were found inside a concealed compartment in a coffee table. 

A shoebox in the bedroom contained an additional quantity of fentanyl/heroin. Street ready glassine envelopes stamped with the brand name “Skull Crusher,” empty glassines and plastic bags of fentanyl/heroin were also recovered from the bedroom closet. 

A subsequent field test on some of the narcotics yielded positive results for fentanyl and heroin. Further analysis is pending. 

All of the equipment and paraphernalia necessary for packaging narcotics was present in the apartment, such as coffee grinders, rubber gloves, an air purifier and a scale. Bank receipts and medicine bottles in ROJAS-CAMACHO’s name were also recovered.

At the time of arraignment on November 9, 2022, a Manhattan Criminal Court judge set bail at $100,000 cash/$100,000 bond/$200,000 partially secured bond.

Defendant                                      Charges

Samuel Rojas-Camacho          CPCS 1st – 1 ct 

Bronx, NY                                 CPCS 3rd – 1 ct

Age: 59            Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia 2nd – 2 cts

The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.