By Matthew Monks
“Some outstanding police work has resulted in the biggest drug bust in two years,” Bloomberg said during a Manhattan press conference, noting that 10 plainclothes officers from Queens North Narcotics Bureau seized 459 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $75 million.
An Elmhurst man police said they saw coming and going from the warehouse at 56-32 59th St. was arrested June 16 in the seizure.
Ivan Molano, 32, of 83-45 Vietor Ave., was charged with criminal possession of narcotics, money laundering, and weapons possession, the Queens district attorney said.
According to the criminal complaint filed by the DA in Queens Criminal Court, Molano is charged with preparing and selling narcotics and was witnessed by police entering and leaving the warehouse on June 15. He is charged with storing 12 kilograms “bricks” of cocaine in his Mitsubishi Montero, the complaint said. Police said they also recovered two loaded guns – an Eagle Arms assault rifle and 9mm Glock handgun – and $125,000 cash, Ivan Molano allegedly stashed at his Vietor Avenue apartment and on the first floor of 81-26 Dongan Ave.
During the warehouse raid, police seized more drugs and $35,000 in cash, snaring a total $190,000 during the entire seizure, the complaint said. Police believe the money came from the sale of narcotics, the criminal complaint stated.
Cops began eyeing the warehouse in January, when they identified a Colombian drug ring operating in and around Maspeth, said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
He said the six-month investigation into a cocaine distribution and storage operation came to a head on June 16, when police got wind that the suspects were gearing up to move the cache for sale on the streets. He said they had determined that the warehouse was being used to store and package narcotics, and timed the raid so that it would net the largest haul.
“This seizure represents a huge hit to the underground narcotics economy,” Kelly said in a statement. “Every vial of crack or bag of heroin that is removed from the street is vital in our battle against drugs. We consider this a major victory.”
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said the bust should put a dent in the city's illegal drug activity.
“Last night's seizure should serve as a warning to both drug dealers and violent criminals alike that the law enforcement community … will continue to aggressively track them down and seek to put them in jail for long periods of time,” the district attorney said in a statement.
But one detective said it was hard to gauge what effect the heist would have on the drug scene in Maspeth and Ridgewood because police cannot pinpoint where the cocaine was headed.
“We can assess the street value, but it's hard to say what street it was going to,” said Capt. Matthew Hyland, of Queens North Narcotics.
Still, 104th Precinct Capt. Scott Shanley was optimistic.
“It's a tremendous arrest and I hope it will impact the area,” Shanley said.
Reach reporter Matthew Monks by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
