An alleged fentanyl packaging and distribution operation in the Bronx was dismantled after investigators recovered 4.5 kilos (nearly 10 pounds) of the suspected drug from an apartment above two daycare centers, authorities announced on Wednesday. 

A short-term investigation into the operation led authorities to recover the dangerous narcotic inside an apartment at 2075 Morris Ave., a five-story residential apartment building in Fordham.

Antonio Cabrera, 62, of NYC, was charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree reckless endangerment, and second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia following his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court. 

Packaged glassines.Photo courtesy New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s office

The week-long investigation was conducted by the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force Group T-14, with assistance from the city’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor‘s Investigators Unit. Task Force Group T-14 is comprised of agents and officers from DEA’s New York Division, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the New York State Police, and U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP). The NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit (ESU) and HazMat Team assisted, as did the NYPD K9 Unit.

Agents and officers with Task Force Group T-14 carried out physical and electronic surveillance of the suspect. They said they observed him repeatedly entering the apartment, sometimes staying inside for at least six hours at a time.

On the afternoon of July 13, agents and officers approached the apartment with NYPD K-9 Mulk, who alerted to the presence of narcotics. The officer went inside the dwelling after hearing commotion behind the walls. That is when they allegedly found Cabrera attempting to throw powdered narcotics toward a window.

Emergency responders immediately evacuated 14 children from two daycare centers located on the building’s first floor.

No injuries were reported. 
Stamps.Photo courtesy New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s office

“When officers entered the apartment, the potentially lethal drug was tossed out of a window, prompting the evacuation of two nearby childcare centers,” Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said. “I commend the investigators from our office, the NYPD, DEA and State Police who shut down the narcotics operation, and NYPD Emergency Service Unit and HazMat responders  who ensured the safety of children in nearby daycare centers.” 

At approximately 3:30 p.m. that day, detectives with the NYPD’s ESU conducted a court-authorized search of the apartment and recovered nearly 10 pounds of fentanyl. Some of the fentanyl had already been packaged into glassine envelopes that were stamped with brand names in preparation for distribution. 

“This was not simply drug trafficking; it is blatant disregard for human life and could have become a death sentence for the innocent families living in the building,” DEA New York Task Force Division Special  Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts. “This operation  underscores both the scale and the lethality of the threat we confront every day and highlights the  grave danger these traffickers pose to our children, our neighbors, and our communities.” 

All the equipment necessary for processing fentanyl was present, including blenders used for mixing narcotics, boxes of empty glassine envelopes, scales, stamps, and inkpads. Stamp names included “Black Mamba,” “Pandemic,” “Covid-19,” “Blue Magic,” and “Shot.” 

The results of DEA laboratory analysis on the recovered substances are pending. 

Cabrera was held in custody without bail being set.