Members of the Yonkers Police Department Narcotics Unit, working in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Agency’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force Group T-12, conducted a narcotics interdiction Jan. 14 in the area of Central Park Avenue north of Palmer Road, resulting in the seizure of approximately eight kilograms of alleged heroin and the arrest of two individuals for felony drug possession.
Detectives, special agents and investigators were conducting surveillance on Central Park Avenue and conducted a vehicle stop on a rented vehicle occupied by a male and female. Investigation at the scene, including the utilization of drug-sniffing K-9 dogs, yielded “sufficient probable cause” to obtain a search warrant resulting in the discovery of the eight separately wrapped packages of alleged heroin.
The two occupants were placed under arrest and the vehicle and drugs were recovered as evidence.
The defendants are identified as Javier and Olga Lozano, both 54, of Michigan. They have been charged with one count of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A-I felony, and have been remanded to the Westchester County Jail. The alleged heroin constitutes approximately 200,000 individual “decks” with a street value of several million dollars.
“Working together with our federal, state and local partners, the Yonkers Police Department is committed to removing dangerous drugs from our communities,” said Police Commissioner Charles Gardner. “Seizing this heroin will no doubt save lives and these arrests send a clear message to those who would traffic drugs through our city: You will get caught, you will get arrested, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The rampant use of opioids brings illicit profit-making opportunities to dealers everywhere,” added Ray Donovan, DEA special agent-in-charge. “On Monday, we arrested a Michigan man and his ex-wife who had brought 8 kilograms of heroin/fentanyl to New York for resale. Through a collaborative law enforcement operation, the traffickers were arrested and hundreds of thousands of dosage units taken off the streets.”
The DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force Group T-12 comprises agents and officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department and New York State Police. The case is being prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with information about illegal drugs or narcotics in the City of Yonkers is encouraged to contact the Yonkers Police Narcotics Unit at 914-377-TIPS (8477). All calls will remain confidential. Anonymous tips can also be sent by texting the key word “YPD” plus the tip to 847411.
In addition, anonymous tips can be sent directly through the Yonkers PD Tips app, which can be downloaded for free to any Apple or Android device.
The HEART Initiative (Heroin Enforcement and Assistance Response Team) is Mayor Mike Spano and the Yonkers Police Department’s approach to combating the growing epidemic of heroin addiction. It consists of a three-prong approach: prevention, assistance and enforcement. If you or someone you know has an addiction problem, call 914-377-7375 for information about assistance resources.
