Rochester ‘Heroin Ring’ Bust a Major Victory in the Region’s War on Heroin

NYLON – Police have taken down a major Heroin trafficking ring in Rochester, arresting eight people for allegedly dealing the drug in Rochester and Philadelphia, making a major dent in heroin traffic in the Genesee Valley.

According to news partner 13WHAM, authorities are optimistic that these arrests will decrease the local supply of a drug which has plagued families in the area, including Livingston County.

“Heroin has found a home in Livingston County and is something my office will continue to thoroughly investigate and combat in conjunction with local law enforcement as well as vigorously prosecute,” said Livingston County District Attorney Greg McCaffrey. “I personally welcome the opportunity to address any school, organization or community that wishes to learn more about the dangers heroin presents to our community and what we can look for in combating it.”

Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley said that the bust is a significant victory for law enforcement in the region’s war on heroin.

“We feel that after this thorough investigation with the Rochester police department, and all of our other partners who are represented… that we may finally have an in in stopping the epidemic here in Rochester,” said Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley.

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office alone has made dozens of arrests related to heroin in the past year, especially on I-390 moving in and out of the county, and Village police departments across Livingston County have made numerous arrests as well.

Authorities say the Philadelphia network has been supplying local dealers with large quantities of heroin, calling one of the homes in that city a “heroin mill.” That’s where agents found numerous sifters, strainers, scales and several plastic baggies.

“We believe this group was selling anywhere between $40,000 to $60,000 worth of heroin on the streets of Rochester every week,” said Doug Gregory with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Western New York. “They had trap cars that they used here in the city of Rochester, which they would send the money down and would meet at various locations between here and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.”

In breaking up the ring, agencies seized 3.5 lbs. of heroin, which is more than 1,000 doses on the street. Five firearms were seized, as were cell phones and computers that suspects apparently used to do business. Agents say heroin baggies, or decks, were stamped with “3D,” “Lebron James” or “Thumbs Up.”

“Anytime we can take a chunk out of a supply line of heroin coming up to Rochester, we’re thinking maybe we save a couple of families from putting on funerals over the weekend,” said Tim Kernan, of the Drug Enforcement Administration Rochester Office.

Federal agents told news partner 13WHAM that they did not seize any quantity of the deadly drug Fentanyl that’s sometimes mixed with heroin and responsible for some of the deaths we’ve seen locally.

The investigation continues, as authorities believe other networks are linked to the Rochester ring.

NYLON is the New York Local Online News section of the GeneseeSun.com, dedicated to uniting communities outside of Livingston County.

PHOTO CAPTION: (Photo/file image)

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