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Officials: 3 charged in connection to 13 pounds of drugs found near Allerton elementary school

Police say drug mixtures including fentanyl, heroin, xylazine, methamphetamine and cocaine were found inside the apartment.

Heather Fordham

Dec 4, 2024, 11:03 PM

Updated 9 hr ago

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Three men were charged in connection to 13 pounds of drugs found inside a residential apartment building on Olinville Avenue.
On Nov. 6, members of the New York Drug Enforcement Taskforce conducted a court authorized search at 2300 Olinville Ave. The apartment building is directly across from P.S. 96 elementary school.
As agents busted through the apartment door that was deadbolted shut, a detective outside the building witnessed two men throwing bags of what appeared to be drugs from the ninth-floor balcony.
Drug mixtures including fentanyl, heroin, xylazine, methamphetamine and cocaine were found inside the apartment. Federal officials say the drugs had an estimated street value worth $2 million.
Agents also discovered drug packaging equipment including empty glassine envelopes, strainers, grinders and kilogram press devices, as well as $3,700 in cash inside the apartment.
Neighbors who live in the building say they were told to stay inside their apartments when agents were conducting their search. One resident says officers were searching thier balconies with flashlights in search of drugs that were thrown from the balcony.
"To tell you the truth, I am very appalled and baffled, and surprised and horrid to find out something was going on with the drugs, it's not safe we need more attentions to these problems," said Sergey who lives in the building.
Prosecutors say 32-year-old Joseph Martinez, from Teaneck, New Jersey was in charge of the operation. He is being held without bail.
Jauncito Rivera, 34, from the Bronx and Josue Pichardo, 27, of Manhattan were released under supervision and electronic monitoring. They are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.