$30 Million Worth Of Heroin Seized In NYC Build-A-Bear Workshop/Fergie-Like Scenario Drug Bust
Taylor
9 hours ago
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NEW YORK (AP, KJIH-TV Media) — A dozen people have been arrested, and
33 pounds of heroin worth $30 million and stuffed inside Build-A-Bear
toys has been seized in a drug bust in the Bronx.
The arrests late Friday afternoon were announced Saturday by the New
York office of the Drug Enforcement Administration along with city and
state police.
The authorities say the arrests broke up a drug ring that each week
sold hundreds of thousands of small bags of drugs.
The drugs were stamped with such brand names as Barack Obama, Swine
Flu and Crime 360.
Authorities say $150,000 in cash was also seized and the drugs were
distributed in New Jersey and New York.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Bronx Build-A-Bear toys stuffed with millions in heroin
BY Samuel Goldsmith
DAILY NEWS WRITER
Saturday, July 4th 2009, 3:31 PM
They don't stock this option at your local Build-A-Bear store.
Authorities announced Saturday a massive heroin bust in the Bronx,
where dealerswere moving millions of dollars in dope inside Build-A-
Bear dolls.
Thedrugs were packaged in tiny glassine bags branded with names
likeBarack Obama, Swine Flu and Crime 360, a nod to a detective series
onA&E.
"The agents walk in and there's heroin and all thedime bags and the
Build-A-Bears just sitting there," said Erin Mulvey,spokesman for the
Drug Enforcement Administration.
State, localand federal law enforcement officers seized 33 pounds of
heroin with astreet value of about $33 million and arrested 12 people
on Friday. Thesuspects were waiting to be arraigned late Saturday.
"It's a huge shock," said Mario Amesqui, 54, who lives in the same
building as one of the Riverdale apartments raided on Friday.
"Mydaughter has one of those toys. I'm very surprised something like
thatwas going on right here and I'm especially surprised it was aBuild-
A-Bear."
Authorities said the heroin suppliers sliced openthe backs of the
bears and filled the cuddly toys with smack. They usedthe stuffed
animals to transport the drugs without detection.
Thethree-month investigation led to the execution of five search
warrantsin the Bronx. The drug crew sold at least 44 pounds of dope
before thebusts. All the heroin was made in America, authorities said.
"We've seen a big increase in heroin use throughout the tristate area
in recent months, especially in the suburbs," Mulvey said.
Agentssay the dealers moved thousands of square-inch dime bags inside
theBuild-A-Bears every week from their safe house on Carpenter Ave. in
theBronx. Agents also seized $150,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia,
weaponsand incriminating documents at the homes they raided.
Neighborsat the safe house had no idea drugs were moving in and out of
theapartment until the cops showed up on Friday, witnesses said.
"Allthese cops came, jumped out of their vans and ran in. Nobody knew
whatwas going on," said Jorge Barrios, 28, who lives in the building.
Thering leader was identified as Yeffery Alba of 735 Pelham Parkway.
Albaand 11 other suspects - ages 26 to 39 - were charged with
criminalpossession and conspiracy.
The create-your-own-teddy bears arestaples of malls across the
country. At Build-A-Bear Workshops, kidscan make fully customized
dolls with their choice of stuffing,stitching, features, clothes and
even sounds.
A Build-A-Bear headquarters spokesman could not be reached.
With Zak Failla and Jan Ransom