Heroin Mill Uncovered In Luxury Midtown Apartment, $6.5M Worth of Drug Seized

NEW YORK — Four people have been arrested in connection with a $6.5 million heroin bust that apparently operated inside a luxury apartment building in the Theater District, officials announced Thursday.

According to authorities, the apartment, located at 417 West 43rd Street, was under surveillance over the past several days. Investigators moved in on one of the suspects Wednesday afternoon after observing the individual exit the apartment with a large garbage bag which he placed in a BMW. An array of heroin paraphernalia was later found inside the bag.

Soon after, detectives swarmed the apartment and seized 13 kilograms of heroin worth approximately $6.5 million. Three men, described by investigators as "mill workers," were placed into custody.

Officials say piles of loose heroin and assorted drug packaging paraphernalia were found on tables inside the apartment where the men had been working assembly line-style. Several coffee grinders used to the cut the drug with a diluting substance were also found on the floor nearby, investigators said.

Several of the products were allegedly tagged with various stamps including "Jersey Boys" and "Cats & Dogs."

Authorities say that the posh apartment that served as the staging area for the alleged mill was recently renovated and boasted a price tag of $3,800 a month.

"If our investigators were surprised by the location, you can only imagine the shock of neighbors, commuters and theater goers when they learned of the huge criminal enterprise operating inside," Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said in a statement. "Residents of the city can take comfort in knowing their safety is being protected by skilled, vigilant investigators."

Of the arrested include Johnny Oscar Heredia, 50, Juan Hernandez, 47, Luz Liriano, 35, and Gregorio Antionio Conce, 47. The suspects are expected to be arraigned on drug charges Thursday in Manhattan Criminal Court.