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On Wednesday, five New York men, including three residents of the Bronx, were accused of smuggling millions of dollars worth of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York and Massachusetts through the United States Postal Service.

The intercepted package contained a total of 30 kilograms of cocaine, hidden in children’s lunch boxes and school binders.

In the execution of the alleged conspiracy from May 2020 to July 2021, Carlos Duarte, the leader of Yonkers, and Alexis Garcia of the Bronx, allegedly contained large amounts of cocaine Of packages were shipped from Puerto Rico to New York and Massachusetts. The survey revealed that these two jobs are managers of recording artists representing Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Both are residents of New York. Allegedly, frequent travel related to this work is a cover for drug-related activities.

"Hiding narcotic drugs in children's lunchboxes is the organization's modus operandi," said Bridget G. Brennan, Special Narcotics Attorney. "If this strategy is to evade law enforcement, it will not work. I commend the excellent investigation carried out with our partners to bring it out of business."

On Wednesday, agents, officials, and inspectors arrested Duarte at his home at 237 Hoover Avenue in Yonkers and recovered approximately 400 grams of white powdery substance, some of which tested positive for cocaine in field tests, as well as from Live in a search authorized by the court. Garcia was arrested in front of the recording studio of 281 S. Broadway in Yonkers. He has approximately $12,000 in his possession. The court authorized a search of his residence at 1500 Noble Ave. in the Bronx and found another $32,000, various records and a Rolex watch. In addition, Raul Sweeney, 27, of the Bronx, was arrested in the Bronx on Thursday.

Duarte faces the highest narcotics charge as a major drug dealer. Other charges contained in the indictment include second-degree conspiracy, first-degree criminal sales of controlled substances, and first- and third-degree criminal possession of controlled substances. Wesley Coddington of Queens and Bryan Centeno-Rosado of the Bronx were arrested during the investigation and charged with criminal charges. They are scheduled to stand trial on November 17.

Although the allegations in the indictment involved USPS packages containing approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine, the investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately twice that amount, for a total of 30 kilograms of cocaine. Agents, officials, and inspectors use a wide range of investigative tools, including the collection of potential fingerprints from USPS packages, physical and electronic surveillance, court-authorized searches, and various other investigative tools.

During the investigation, U.S. Postal inspectors identified several signs of packages sent by the organization and discovered a broader pattern involving 100 similar packages shipped since May 2020. Packages are delivered to residential addresses in New York State, including Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, and Greene Counties, as well as Massachusetts. Usually, the designated recipient is either a fictitious or an actual individual who has nothing to do with the address. Although the package is from Puerto Rico, the return address is usually New York. At least two packages contained the return address of a luxury clothing boutique in Upper Manhattan.

Between May 2020 and April 2021, fingerprint analysis allegedly linked the defendant to six packages. Allegedly, Duarte's fingerprints were found on two packages, Garcia was found on four packages, and Centeno-Rosado's fingerprints were found on one package related to Garcia. These USPS packages contain a total of 8 kg of cocaine, which is hidden in a children’s lunch box and a zipper clip. There are images of popular cartoon characters on the lunch box.

On January 21st, surveillance video from Puerto Rico showed that Duarte delivered a USPS package to 2925 Colden Ave., located near Williamsbridge in the Bronx, where Sweeney lived. Members of NYDETF observed that the package was delivered to the Colden Avenue address on January 22. Sweeney allegedly left the residence with a gray shopping bag, discarded a seemingly white USPS box, and handed the bag to Coddington. Members of NYDETF and USPIS observed Coddington entering the vehicle and walking around on the back seat.

At 2:25 pm, agents and police intercepted the vehicle near Astor Avenue and Boston Road, and found approximately two kilograms of cocaine hidden in a children’s lunch box in a hidden trap compartment in the back seat area. Codington also owns a small amount of fentanyl. He was arrested and charged with criminal proceedings.

On April 14, agents and officials conducted a court-authorized search of Codington's residence at 21-27 149th Street, Flushing, Queens. The search resulted in more than 18 pink zipper bags containing cocaine, as well as $4,000, a Rolex watch, luxury sneakers, a luxury school bag and wallet, a kilogram press (equipment for packaging narcotics), and three digital scales And cell phone.

Two weeks later, on April 28, agents and officials observed that Duarte had received a USPS package and was driving a white pickup truck. The next day, April 29, members of NYDETF and USPIS tracked a package destined for 1871 Barnes Ave. in the Bronx. During the surveillance, they observed a vehicle similar to Duarte's white pickup truck near the location. At approximately 4:40 pm, agents and police officers observed Centeno-Rosado leaving the scene with a heavy duffel bag, and then boarded a uniformed car. Members of the T-41 group followed the car to a stop in Yonkers.

Agents and officials found four kilograms of cocaine, one gray and one red, in two lunch boxes. The uniformed driver showed the destination of the car as Duarte’s residence at 237 Hoover Road in Yonkers. The mobile phone communication between Duarte and Centeno-Rosado indicated that Duarte had ordered the uniformed car. Centeno-Rosado was arrested and charged with criminal charges.

On June 3, members of NYDETF stopped a car Garcia was in. The court-authorized search removed approximately $1,000 from the trunk of the vehicle, as well as two mobile phones. A court-authorized search of mobile phones revealed that Garcia and another person allegedly had a drug-related conversation. Garcia sent a USPS receipt and another person sent a photo of a kilogram of cocaine. There are also discussions about price and weight.

Later that month, Duarte headed to the US-Mexico border between Texas and New Mexico. On June 21, he allegedly sent a USPS mailbox, which listed his own name as the recipient and sender.

New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “At the height of the ongoing pandemic, these suspected drug traffickers hid in jobs in the music industry and shipped cocaine in children’s lunch boxes.” “But our New York Police Department investigators and law enforcement partners have not been fooled. Today’s important indictment from the Special Narcotics Attorney’s Office demonstrates our unwavering commitment to preventing New Yorkers from becoming victims of crime.”

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