KINGSTON – Drugs with a street value of well over $1 million have been seized along with assault-style weapons and cash and 11 people have been indicted on related charges for dealing in Ulster, Dutchess and Saratoga counties.
The announcement was made in Kingston Wednesday by State Attorney General Letitia James and local law enforcement officials.
“This investigation, which began in June 2021, resulted in the seizure of 11 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $1.2 million, more than 15,000 methamphetamine pills with a street value of $100,000, more than 5,000 artificial Xanax pills with a street value of $50,000 and more than 750 heroin pills, disguised as Oxycodone, with a street value of more than $50,000,” she said.
Thirty-nine weapons including assault rifles, high-capacity magazines, and $120,000 in cash were also seized.
The investigation began when Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa asked for the AG’s office involvement, which was joined by local and State Police and the sheriff’s URGENT task force.
One other person is wanted in another indictment for importing other drugs into the area from other parts of the county. The suspect is currently out of the country.
The intersection of gangs, drugs, and guns is 90 percent of the problem and “pisses me off,” Ulster County Executive Patrick Ryan said.
Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro said trafficking in drugs is murder.
Eleven of the suspects were taken into custody Wednesday morning by various participating law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.
