Fentanyl Pill Mill Busted in Bronx

Three Charged in Fentanyl Ring Bust

$300,000 in Drugs, Guns Seized

Three men were indicted as part of a fentanyl packaging ring operating out of the Bronx. -Photo by Bronx DA's Office

By Dan Gesslein

Bronx Voice

November 27, 2023

BRONX - An interstate fentanyl packaging and distribution site has been closed down as drugs and weapons were recovered from a Bronx apartment. 

Prosecutors said the suspects had been operating a fentanyl packaging ring out of a Mount Hope apartment. Three men were arrested as part of the drug bust.

Miguelange Lopez, 29, and Adell Batista, 23, were arraigned and Darlin Garcia, 33, is expected to be indicted at the end of the week. Lopez and Batista were charged with second-degree conspiracy, first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a firearm, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and possession of ammunition.

Law enforcement officials raided an apartment at 55 East 179th Street and seized 8,500 glassine envelopes of fentanyl, packaging materials and a loaded handgun. Prosecutors said the suspects imported fentanyl from Connecticut and Pennsylvania and packaged the drugs for distribution. 

During the investigation, prosecutors said, Lopez was observed handing glassines of fentanyl to Garcia outside the building. Prosecutors said Lopez was later arrested with 20,000 glassines of fentanyl. The street value of the drug is said to be $300,000. 

“The defendants allegedly operated a fentanyl mill that packaged thousands of glassine envelopes of the drug that continues to rip apart families and kill people in our community,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. "I thank our partners at the DEA and DETF for their work with us to shut down this factory.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said, “This investigation is another example of how fentanyl mills feed deadly poison to drug trafficking organizations throughout New York City and the Northeast. The DEA New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, Group T-41 and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office worked tirelessly to shut down this one-stop-fentanyl shop where the defendants cut, packaged, and delivered their product with no concern to public safety. Fentanyl continues to be DEA’s priority and is the most urgent threat to public health. I commend our partners at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police for their collaboration in our fight to save lives.” 

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.