By Joe Anuta
The 109th Precinct arrested seven people during a drug bust in Queensboro Hill last month.
On Jan. 25 at about 9:30 p.m., police responded to a report of suspicious activity near the corner of 150th Street and 50th Avenue, according to Capt. Tommy Ng, commanding officer at the Flushing precinct.
Responding officers saw alleged drug transactions and arrested three people on the spot, according to police. Jian Eeng Yang, 33; Xia Ke Xia, 23; and Hong Rui Zheng, 37, were charged with criminal possession of narcotics, criminal possession of a weapon, possessing a loaded firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police.
Cops went back to a nearby residence, where more narcotics were visible in plain sight, according the Ng.
The officers obtained a search warrant and entered the home, arresting four more people, cops said. Ling Ling Gao, 21; Meng Kai Qu, 23; Dao Hua Huang, 28; and Xiau Kai Qu, 38, were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to police.
As a result of the bust, officers recovered about 5 3/4 pounds of ketamine, a drug also used as an animal tranquilizer, a bag full of Ecstasy pills, two .22 caliber rifles, a sawed-off shotgun and a loaded .45 caliber pistol, according to police.
“Ketamine is a popular illegal narcotic,” Ng said. “A lot of the users are predominately Asian.”
A small amount of the drug equivalent to a grain of rice can sell on the street for $25, according to police, meaning the nearly six-pound bundle would fetch a tidy sum.
Earlier that day, police made other unrelated arrests for allegedly possessing a gambling device and ketamine.
At about 3:45 p.m. near the corner of 132nd Street and Pople Avenue, police arrested Maggi Chen, 33, and Xue Qing Chen, 35, and charged them with possessing gambling devices and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Cops busted another pair days later for possessing more than 30,000 untaxed cigarettes near the corner of 142nd Street and Booth Memorial Avenue, police said. Xu Bi Xia, 65, and Ming Guang, 62, were cuffed and charged, police said.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
