Two Separate Investigations Result in Cocaine Seizures in Brooklyn and Manhattan
Three alleged drug traffickers face charges in connection with using UPS package delivery services to smuggle large loads of cocaine into New York City. Two separate investigations resulted in the seizure of a combined total of 30 kilograms of cocaine (over 66 pounds) in Brooklyn and Manhattan as charged in an indictment and criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP). The cocaine carried an estimated street value of $900,000.
Joshua VARGAS was arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court yesterday on a newly unsealed indictment, which contains charges related to the seizure of approximately 11 kilograms of cocaine in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn on July 15, 2026. The investigation, conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Task Force Division (DEA-NYTFD) Group T-23, with assistance from SNP’s Investigators Unit, uncovered another eight kilograms of cocaine shipped in an additional package with delivery intended for the same Brooklyn address.
A second investigation, conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Task Force, with the assistance of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Enforcement Division (DEA-NYED) Group D-32, resulted in the arrests of Tyrone WATTS and Ines ZOUICHE in Kips Bay, Manhattan on July 27, 2026. Approximately 11 kilograms of cocaine were recovered from a UPS package. More than $4,000 cash and three allegedly forged driver’s licenses were also seized. Two children were present at the time of the arrests.
Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts, DEA New York Task Force Division, Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam, DEA New York Enforcement Division, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas announced the indictment and arrests.
“Drug traffickers will exploit any means possible to move their poison, including the use of legitimate package delivery services that millions of Americans rely on every day,” said DEA New York Task Force Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts. “These individuals used ordinary packages and our mail delivery system to conceal and transport large quantities of cocaine across the country and directly into New York City neighborhoods. The seizure of approximately 19 kilograms of cocaine underscores the scale of this drug trafficking operation. The DEA New York Task Force Division and our Task Force partners continue every day to target these networks before their drugs reach our city streets.”
“The seizure of 11 kilograms of cocaine in a UPS package destined for New York City, demonstrates the various methods drugs traffickers use when attempting to transport dangerous drugs throughout the country,” said DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “Drug traffickers continue to exploit every method at their disposal to conceal and transport illicit narcotics, but what is even more troubling is exposing their own children to this type of dangerous criminal activity. The DEA will not tolerate individuals who put profits ahead of public safety, especially when children are involved. I commend our Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the New York Enforcement Division, HSI, and our prosecutorial partners whose collaboration led to these arrests and prevented this cocaine from reaching our streets. The DEA and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in identifying, targeting, and dismantling those who abuse our nation’s mail system to distribute deadly narcotics.”
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “Our city’s supply of cocaine is surging. Frequently mixed with lethal opioids and other synthetic drugs, cocaine has been detected in over half of all overdose deaths in New York City. Throughout the city, our office has worked with our federal, state, and local partners to intercept significant amounts of cocaine. We have recovered multiple kilograms concealed in ordinary looking packages, which were transported by common parcel delivery services. We continue work closely with District Attorneys’ Offices to prosecute those who enrich themselves by endangering the safety of our communities.”
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “Drug traffickers continually adapt the ways they move dangerous narcotics into our communities, and law enforcement must be equally vigilant in identifying and disrupting those methods. Narcotics trafficking fuels addiction, threatens public safety and can drive violence in our neighborhoods. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs and hold those responsible accountable. I commend the Special Narcotics Prosecutor and our partners for their strong work on these cases.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas said, “These defendants are accused of turning an ordinary storefront delivery into the endpoint of an interstate cocaine shipment, allegedly using false identities and surveillance tactics to shield the scheme from law enforcement. By intercepting this shipment, investigators prevented 11 kilograms of cocaine from reaching New York streets and exposed conduct that placed the public, including children, dangerously close to a narcotics trafficking enterprise. HSI New York’s success is strengthened by partners who help us share intelligence, act with precision, and close the gaps criminals try to exploit across jurisdictions, agencies, and legitimate commerce.”
DEA-NYTFD Group T-23 is comprised of Special Agents with DEA, and officers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the New York State Police, and U.S. Customs & Border Protection.
DEA-NYED Group D-32 is comprised of Special Agents with DEA, and Task Force Officers from the River Vale (New Jersey) Police Department, Englewood Cliffs (New Jersey) Police Department, and Amtrak Police Department.
The HSI Task Force is comprised of agents and officers with HSI and the NYPD.
Cocaine Delivery: East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
An investigation by DEA-NYTFD Group T-23 identified two UPS packages that allegedly contained cocaine and were shipped to 174 Bogart Street in East Williamsburg. The packages were flagged as suspicious at a UPS facility in Queens, where a K9 alerted positively to the presence of narcotics. Both had been sent by the same sender account from UPS stores in California. While the 174 Bogart Street recipient address was consistent, recipient names and suite numbers varied for each package.
On July 15, at approximately 2:12 p.m., an undercover officer posing as a UPS driver observed defendant Joshua VARGAS outside 174 Bogart Street exiting a gray Mercedes with Connecticut license plates. The undercover asked VARGAS if one of the packages was his and VARGAS allegedly responded in the affirmative, although the parcel bore a name other than his.
VARGAS was placed under arrest. A court authorized search of the package yielded three brick shaped kilogram packages of narcotics wrapped in tape. Following a positive K9 hit on the Mercedes, a FedEx package containing eight brick shaped kilogram packages of narcotics was seized from the vehicle. DEA laboratory analysis identified narcotics as from both packages as cocaine.
VARGAS is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees and Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees in connection with these 11 kilograms of cocaine. Bail for VARGAS is set at $200,000 cash/bond.
Eight additional kilograms of cocaine were recovered from the second UPS package addressed to 174 Bogart Street. The investigation is continuing with respect to this package.
Cocaine Delivery: Kips Bay, Manhattan
In a separate investigation, members of the HSI Task Force identified a package containing 11 kilograms of cocaine that had been shipped from California for delivery to a UPS store in Kips Bay, Manhattan. The package was flagged and searched pursuant to a court authorized search warrant.
On July 27, 2026, HSI investigators with the assistance of DEA-NYED Group D-32 observed defendant Ines ZOUICHE allegedly receiving delivery of the package inside a UPS store located at 353 Third Avenue, where she was required to present identification to a UPS employee. Agents arrested ZOUICHE as she exited the store with the large parcel. She allegedly possessed a forged Delaware driver’s license.
Prior to ZOUICHE entering the UPS store, agents observed defendant Tyrone WATTS circling the block in a white Audi sedan, peering into parked cars in an apparent counter-surveillance maneuver. Investigators stopped WATTS after ZOUICHE’s arrest and discovered two children, including a toddler and a child under 10, were present in the white Audi. A black duffle bag recovered from the floor of the car allegedly contained approximately $4,000 cash, a vial of cocaine, and two more Delaware licenses. All three Delaware licenses bore ZOUICHE’s photo and the same date of birth but different names.
A subsequent court authorized search of ZOUICHE’s cell phone yielded a text conversation allegedly between her and WATTS from December 2025, in which ZOUICHE sent a passport style photo to WATTS and provided information that would normally appear on a license.
A criminal complaint charges WATTS and ZOUICHE with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree During an arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on July 28, 2026, bail for both defendants was set at $100,000 cash/$200,000 bond.
Bridget G. Brennan thanked Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., and commended her office’s Special Investigations Bureau and Investigators Unit, the DEA New York Task Force Division, the DEA New York Enforcement Division, the HSI Task Force, the NYPD, the New York State Police, and U.S. Customs & Border Protection and all the agencies involved for their work on the investigation.
Joshua Vargas Hartford, CT Age: 35 | CPCS 1st – 1 ct Attempted CPCS 1st – 1 ct CPCS 3rd – 1 ct Attempted CPCS 3rd – 1 ct |
Criminal Complaint | Charges |
Tyrone Watts Queens, NY Age: 35 | CPCS 1st – 1 ct Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 2nd – 1 ct
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Ines Zouiche Brooklyn, NY Age 36 | CPCS 1st – 1 ct Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 2nd – 1 ct
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The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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