Sheriff: Search Yields 450 Heroin Packets

A 28-year-old Southeast resident is facing felony drug charges after a recent arrest that was part of an ongoing investigation into heroin sales in Putnam County, officials say.

Narcotics investigators with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office arrested Grigoriy Yarmarkov, of Old Route 6, last week, authorities said in a statement released Thursday.

"On March 1, members of the Narcotics Enforcement Unit developed information
that a local resident was actively selling large quantities of heroin to others, including street-level dealers working in Putnam and Westchester counties," the statement reads. "Further investigation revealed that Grigoriy Yarmarkov of Old Route 6, was selling the narcotic from his home.

At about 9:40PM that evening, narcotics investigators executed a search warrant at
Mr. Yarmarkov’s residence and arrested him. As a result of the search warrant, officers seized approximately 450 packets of pre-packaged heroin ready for sale and a quantity of unprocessed heroin—both having an estimated street value of $6,000. Additionally they confiscated packaging materials, scales, cash and transaction records from his home."

Yarmarkov is facing the following felony charges: one count of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

"Mr. Yarmarkov, who was out on bail for an earlier arrest by the Narcotics
Enforcement Unit, is facing six narcotics-related felony charges stemming from a January 2013 arrest," officials said. "These charges included sales and possession of a controlled substance. They are still pending further court action."

Following arraignment before Carmel Town Justice Joseph Spofford, who was acting on behalf of Southeast Justice Court, the defendant was placed in the Putnam County Correctional Facility on $50,000 bail.

the arrest of a 23-year-old Southeast man, who they called a "major Putnam heroin distributor." Around that time, a traffic stop in town led to two more arrests associated with the drug. And four were charged in a Westchester-Putnam heroin investigation in December, while officials investigated a string of suspected overdoses.