1. Long-tailed phrase: Multi-agency task force disrupts gun trafficking and cocaine network in New York
2. Long-tailed phrase: Major New York gun trafficking and cocaine ring disrupted by multi-agency team.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
By Cara Ding
Contributing Writer
A collaborative effort spanning six months and involving nearly 40 law enforcement agencies has successfully disrupted what is believed to be the largest gun trafficking and cocaine operation in Orange County, New York.
The operation, which utilised a seemingly innocent food truck that often parked near the city court in Newburgh, facilitated the illegal transportation of guns from North Carolina and cocaine from Florida into the county, posing a significant risk to residents.
During a press conference held at the county’s Sheriff’s Office, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler described the operation as highly sophisticated and structured, with money laundering activities that were difficult to trace.
A barber shop in Newburgh was allegedly used as a stash house for the criminal ring, where illicit goods and money were stored. The operation is estimated to have generated approximately $3.3 million in cocaine sales annually in the city of Newburgh and other areas in the Hudson Valley.
Following a coordinated crackdown on May 21 by multiple law enforcement agencies, nearly 30 individuals allegedly involved in the criminal ring were arrested. Law enforcement seized approximately 12 kilos of cocaine, 30 illegal firearms, and over $45,000 in U.S. currency as part of the operation.
It was revealed that five of the six suspected leaders of the criminal network were undocumented immigrants. Additionally, one of the seized firearms was identified as the murder weapon used in the tragic death of a 13-year-old in North Carolina.
Collaborative Efforts and Investigations
Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta commended the joint effort of various law enforcement agencies in dismantling the criminal network, highlighting the importance of multi-jurisdictional cooperation in combating narcotics and firearms trafficking.
The investigation, spearheaded by investigator John Kitsos at the Sheriff’s Office with support from police Lt. Thomas Mallon, received additional assistance from investigator Mike Decker and senior investigator Chris Fox at the District Attorney’s Office.
A number of local police departments, including Middletown, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Woodbury, and Montgomery, contributed to the investigation. The Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center in Goshen also played a crucial role in analysing data and providing valuable insights.
The New York City Police Department deployed undercover officers to purchase guns and drugs from the food truck in Newburgh, leading to the codename “Operation Hot Lunch.” The ATF provided advanced investigative resources and aided in capturing the key suppliers based in North Carolina and Florida.
ATF New York Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller emphasised the significance of the case in combatting the flow of illicit drugs and firearms on the streets, praising the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies.
Ongoing Investigation and Suspects at Large
Despite the arrests made during Operation Hot Lunch, four individuals allegedly connected to the criminal ring remain at large. Authorities are actively seeking Fort Lauderdale resident Laura McLaren Bailey, Poughkeepsie resident Anthony Nelson, Newburgh resident Larry Oates, and Shantorian Towles.
Operation Hot Lunch continues to be an active investigation, with ongoing efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects and gather further evidence. The statistics provided at this stage are subject to change as the investigation progresses.
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1. Multi-agency team disrupts major gun trafficking and cocaine ring in New York
2. Multi-agency team cracks down on gun trafficking and cocaine ring in New York.
