Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton announced charges today against members of two drug organizations in Washington Heights. In all, 35 defendants have been charged with various crimes in the sale of cocaine. One group, members of the primarily Dominican gang, the Trinitarios, allegedly sold crack cocaine on West 177th Street between Audubon and Saint Nicholas Avenues and made between $5,000 and $10,000 a day in transactions. This took place in plain view of two schools: P.S. 115 Alexander Humboldt and KIPP Star Washington Heights Elementary. One school reportedly closed off one entrance to limit contact between students and the drug dealings. “For months, young children and their parents were forced to take detours on their way to school to avoid the activity detailed in these indictments,” said Vance. “Law-abiding New Yorkers should not have to fear that their neighbors are selling dangerous drugs, nor the violence that comes hand-in-hand with the sale of illegal drugs.” Another group of drug dealers, many family members, allegedly sold $75,000 worth of powder cocaine over six months. The group used a delivery service through which customers put in orders by phone, and deliveries were made outside local restaurants, bakeries, and bodegas. “The scourge of drugs is real — look no further than the arrests made yesterday in Washington Heights.,” said Bratton. He said he looks forward to more collaboration with the District Attorney’s office in pursuing drug crimes.
Cops bust 35 cocaine dealers in Washington Heights round-up
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