360 Pounds Of Cocaine Seized From Tractor Trailer In NYC: Prosecutor

NEW YORK CITY — 360 pounds of cocaine were seized from a tractor trailer in New York City and three individuals have been charged, prosecutors announced.

The discovery came from an investigation into interstate narcotics trafficking by agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Division.

The amount of cocaine seized has an estimated street value of at least $4.5 million, prosecutors said.

Jeffrey Alcantara, 30, of Manhattan, Karimzhan Ragibov, 28, of Ohio and Rayimzhon Binaliyev, 37 of Arizona have been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third Degrees, prosecutors said.

On Aug. 8, at 8:20 p.m., agents with the DEA New Jersey Division were conducting surveillance when they saw a black Maxx-D Trailer stop in the vicinity of 1591 233rd Street in the Bronx.

Moments later, a gray Jeep Cherokee arrived at the location. Alcantara got out and approached the trailer and was observed talking to Ragibov and Binaliyev, prosecutors said.

Alcantara directed the trailer to move down the street — that's when DEA agents detained the three men.

A court authorized search of the trailer by agents and officers with the DEA and the NYPD’s Queens North Narcotics Major Case Unit on Friday, Aug. 9, uncovered the cocaine hidden in a trap compartment inside the base of the trailer.

A search of the Jeep yielded $30,000, prosecutors said.

“This seizure of more than 300 pounds of cocaine reflects the recent rise in cocaine trafficking to New York City that we have been tracking. It is a dangerous and disturbing trend, especially as we find drugs like fentanyl and xylazine mixed in with cocaine sold on the streets. We will continue to work with our partners to disrupt narcotics organizations, seize their drugs and profits, and make our city safer," Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said in a statement.