Three men remain behind bars after they were arrested earlier this week in a Jackson Heights drug bust.
Following a lengthy investigation, the NYPD Queens North Narcotics Unit conducted the operation at around 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 3 at the corner of 95th Street and 37th Avenue, law enforcement sources said.
According to the criminal complaint that the Queens District Attorney’s office provided, Julio Azcona, 39, and Eduardo Azcona, 37, were observed inside a gray Chevrolet Tahoe SUV that pulled up to the intersection. Detectives at the scene spotted Johnathan Rodriguez, 24, approach the driver’s side of the SUV and hand Julio Azcona a black plastic bag that appeared to contain a large amount of cash.
Police moved in and stopped the three suspects. Detectives recovered the bag, which was found to contain $16,480 in cash. In searching Rodriguez, they also found in his waistband ten plastic bags containing cocaine and four bags of marijuana. They also seized $1,822 inside a pants pocket.
Officers later executed a search warrant of the Chevrolet Tahoee and found inside a compartment a plastic vacuum-sealed bag containing more than a half-kilo of cocaine, with an estimated street value in excess of $16,000.
Detectives also recovered $823 in cash from Julio Azcona and $1,563 in currency from Eduardo Azcona.
The Azconas and Rodriguez were each charged with first- and second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Court records indicated that each of them are being held on $25,000 bond or $15,000 cash bail, and must return to court on Jan. 23.
The 115th Precinct, on its Twitter page, congratulated the officers involved in making the bust.
Great investigation by Queens North Narcotics resulting in the seizure of cocaine and proceeds. #NYPDProtecting #ItsWhatWeDo pic.twitter.com/cUT5AKQABU
— NYPD 115th Precinct (@NYPD115Pct) January 4, 2018
