Over 110 lbs. of crystal meth seized in Manhattan; 2 PA. men arrested

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Two Pennsylvania men were arrested after authorities seized over 110 pounds of crystal methamphetamine from a car in Manhattan, officials announced on Wednesday.

According to criminal complaint charges, Fernando Penaloza-Reyes, 43, and Raul Cruz-Torres, 41, both of Reading, Pa., were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.

At approximately 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, New York Drug Enforcement Task Force officials were conducting surveillance and stopped a black Chevrolet Tahoe bearing Pennsylvania license plates in the vicinity of West Street and Battery Place in Lower Manhattan.

Penaloza-Reyes was allegedly driving the vehicle and Cruz-Torres was seated in the front passenger seat when agents observed two large black duffel bags in the rear seat.

Officials detained the men and took custody of the vehicle while they obtained a court-authorized search warrant.

At approximately 3:40 p.m., agents removed the duffel bags from the rear seat and discovered approximately 50 vacuum sealed packages of a white rocky substance alleged to be crystal methamphetamine weighing more than 110 pounds.

The drug load is estimated to carry a street value of $600,000 and is one of the largest methamphetamine seizures to result in charges by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

The results of DEA laboratory analysis of the crystal methamphetamine are pending.