QUEENS, N.Y. — A massive cocaine seizure in Queens has been described by New York law enforcement officials as an extraordinary drug bust, with authorities recovering more than 580 pounds of cocaine from a Long Island City self-storage facility.
The drugs were discovered during a joint investigation involving the NYPD, DEA, New Jersey State Police and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office. Investigators said the cocaine had an estimated street value of more than $10 million.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized the significance of taking such a large quantity of narcotics off the streets.
“That is an enormous quantity of narcotics that will never be broken down, that will never be packaged, sold, or distributed in our neighborhoods,” Tisch said.
Authorities arrested 35-year-old Nelson Salcedo of Englewood, New Jersey, in connection with the investigation.
Two Weeks of Surveillance Led Investigators to Queens
According to law enforcement, investigators spent roughly two weeks conducting surveillance as they tracked Salcedo and his suspected activities.
Officials said Salcedo was observed delivering weighted cardboard boxes in the vicinity of the northern end of Central Park. Another unidentified person was reportedly seen making similar deliveries on Wednesdays.
Investigators eventually followed Salcedo to a self-storage facility on Northern Boulevard in Long Island City.
Authorities allegedly watched as Salcedo loaded multiple boxes from the facility into a Nissan van.
Tisch said the investigation relied heavily on traditional police work rather than a single dramatic breakthrough.
“It was old-fashioned technical work, long hours of surveillance, following subjects and vehicles, developing intelligence, and staying with the case until investigators were in a position to act,” she said.
That surveillance ultimately led investigators to the location where they say the massive cocaine cache was stored.
19 Boxes Contained More Than 266 Kilograms of Cocaine
During the search, investigators found 19 boxes containing more than 266 kilograms of cocaine in and around the van, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The seizure represents a major disruption to a suspected cocaine trafficking operation operating across the New York and New Jersey region.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan called the seizure particularly significant.
“This appears to be the largest single cache of cocaine my office has seized in 20 years,” Brennan said.
She also warned about the broader danger posed by cocaine trafficking, particularly when cocaine is mixed with other dangerous substances.
“Cocaine trafficking has caused significant damage to our city and continues to claim lives, especially when mixed with fentanyl and sold to unwitting buyers,” Brennan said.
Officials Warn Cocaine Could Have Been Mixed With Fentanyl
Law enforcement officials said the cocaine could have been cut as many as three times after being distributed, potentially with dangerous substances such as fentanyl.
DEA New Jersey Field Division Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James described the seizure as an important blow to organizations responsible for moving drugs into communities.
“The seizure of more than 580 pounds of cocaine is a significant disruption to the criminal organizations responsible for distributing dangerous drugs throughout our communities,” Thorne-James said.
She credited the cooperation between federal, state and local agencies, saying the investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of their partnerships in targeting high-level drug trafficking organizations.
New Jersey Man Faces Drug Charges as Investigation Continues
Salcedo was charged with first- and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Attorney information for Salcedo was not immediately available.
But authorities stressed that the investigation is not finished.
Officials said they expect the joint operation to result in additional drug seizures and more arrests as investigators continue following leads and working to identify others allegedly involved in the trafficking network.
For New York authorities, the seizure represents more than a major quantity of drugs being taken off the streets. Officials say it also demonstrates the potential impact of prolonged surveillance and cooperation between multiple law enforcement agencies targeting large-scale narcotics trafficking.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not indicated how many additional people could ultimately face charges.
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