360 pounds of cocaine found in bed of tractor-trailer during Bronx drug bust: DEA

THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) – A tractor-trailer containing 360 pounds of cocaine was seized by law enforcement in the Bronx on Friday, police said.

Police estimate the value of the cocaine was $4.5 million. Officers also uncovered $30,000 in cash as a result of the drug bust, according to the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York.

“This seizure of more than 300 pounds of cocaine reflects the recent rise in cocaine trafficking to New York City that we have been tracking,” Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said. “It is a dangerous and disturbing trend, especially as we find drugs like fentanyl and xylazine mixed in with cocaine sold on the streets. We will continue to work with our partners to disrupt narcotics organizations, seize their drugs and profits, and make our city safer.”

Three men, 28-year-old Karimzhan Ragibov, 37-year-old Rayimzhon Binaliyev, and an alleged New York City-based narcotics distributor, 30-year-old Jeffery Alcantara, were taken into police custody, authorities said.

According to court documents, New Jersey Drug Enforcement Agents were conducting surveillance as part of an investigation into interstate narcotics trafficking when they observed a trailer at a black Maxx-D trailer stop near 1591 233rd St. in the Bronx. A gray Jeep Cherokee arrived a short time later.

Alcantara was allegedly seen exiting the jeep repeatedly over 10 minutes and directing the trailer to move farther down the street, law enforcement officials said. DEA agents detained the three men at some point, and agents were approved for a search warrant.

Sealed airtight packages were found on the bed beneath the trailer, photos showed. Laboratory analysis revealed the packages contained cocaine.

The three suspects were arrested and charged with one count each of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degree.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here .

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