The suspected kingpin of a multi-million heroin ring that funneled drugs from the Bronx to Buffalo was arrested late last week after eluding authorities for nearly two years, state police announced Monday.
The state police special investigations unit in White Plains had been tracking leads on the suspect, Eury Rodgriguez, 33, of Queens, and took him into custody on Thursday.
Authorities say Rodriguez was involving in moving more than seven kilos of heroin with an estimated street value of $3.5 million from New York City to Buffalo.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned today in Erie County Court on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first degree, conspiracy in the second degree, and operating as a major trafficker, also known as the “drug kingpin law,” officials said.
“This drug kingpin terrorized communities across New York State,” State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement. “We are safer now that he is in custody thanks to the persistent, collaborative efforts of our investigators.”
The case began to unfold about two years ago as authorities from Schneiderman’s office, state police and local police began making street -level purchases and conducting wire taps and other forms of surveillance.
That led them to a stash house in an alley in the heart of Elmwood Village in February 2010. Later that year, two Buffalo men driving up from the Bronx on the Thruway were stopped in Onondaga County and arrested with 300 grams of heroin. A month later, authorities seized five kilos in the Bronx.
In March 2011, 13 of 15 people named in a 51-count indictment were arrested. But among those who managed to avoid arrest was Rodriguez. State police said he “went underground.”
email: mbecker@buffnews.com
The state police special investigations unit in White Plains had been tracking leads on the suspect, Eury Rodgriguez, 33, of Queens, and took him into custody on Thursday.
Authorities say Rodriguez was involving in moving more than seven kilos of heroin with an estimated street value of $3.5 million from New York City to Buffalo.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned today in Erie County Court on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first degree, conspiracy in the second degree, and operating as a major trafficker, also known as the “drug kingpin law,” officials said.
“This drug kingpin terrorized communities across New York State,” State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement. “We are safer now that he is in custody thanks to the persistent, collaborative efforts of our investigators.”
The case began to unfold about two years ago as authorities from Schneiderman’s office, state police and local police began making street -level purchases and conducting wire taps and other forms of surveillance.
That led them to a stash house in an alley in the heart of Elmwood Village in February 2010. Later that year, two Buffalo men driving up from the Bronx on the Thruway were stopped in Onondaga County and arrested with 300 grams of heroin. A month later, authorities seized five kilos in the Bronx.
In March 2011, 13 of 15 people named in a 51-count indictment were arrested. But among those who managed to avoid arrest was Rodriguez. State police said he “went underground.”
email: mbecker@buffnews.com