NEW YORK, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Police and federal narcotics agents in New York Friday announced a $6.5 million heroin bust at a Manhattan apartment building.
Four people were arrested and 13 kilograms (28 pounds) of heroin was seized in the operation Thursday that targeted an apartment on West 43rd Street where heroin was allegedly packaged in glassine envelopes for sale on the street.
"Piles of loose heroin and assorted drug packaging paraphernalia sat on tables where the defendants had been working assembly line-style," the Drug Enforcement Administration said in a written statement. "Several coffee grinders used to cut the drug with a diluting substance rested on the floor nearby."
The DEA said agents from the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force had been watching the Theater District building for several days. They moved in when they saw a suspect exit the building and place a large trash bag in the trunk of his BMW.
Agents said the suspect bolted when they approached but he quickly became stuck in traffic and was arrested. The bag allegedly contained trash left over from the packaging process, including a number of damaged glassine envelopes.
The 250,000 envelopes seized in the operation could each hold $10 worth of heroin for sale on the street and are often stamped with brand names, the agency said.
