BUFFALO — Twenty people were arrested and five more are being sought in what police are calling a “significant” drug bust on the streets of Western New York.
New York State Police Superintendent Joe D’Amico made the announcement this afternoon with the help of of other local and state police officials — in much the same manner the nine-month investigation went.
According to police, six kilograms each of cocaine and heroin were seized as part of the bust, as was $60,000 in cash. The heroin was cut with fentanyl, a deadly drug more potent than morphine. So far in 2016, 11 deaths per week in Buffalo can be traced to the deadly heroin fentanyl mix.
The drug ring that was disabled as part of “Operation Rolling Thunder” trafficked cocaine from Puerto Rico, as well as heroin from Philadephia and New York City. The drugs were shipped to Buffalo and Lockport in a variety of manners, including through the U.S. Postal Service.
Police say the arrests will have an immediate effect on the amount of drugs on WNY streets. How long lasting those effects will be, isn’t known, however.
Among those collaborating on “Operation Rolling Thunder” were New York State Police, Buffalo PD, Erie County Sheriff’s Office and Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.
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