Countywide drug sweep picks up 22 suspects

MUG SHOTS IN THURSDAY’S PRINT EDITION

By Michael Riconda

NEW CITY – A major anti-drug sweep across Rockland County nabbed 22 suspects on over 80 counts of drug sale and possession charges, some of which originated in open air drug markets in downtown centers.

The crackdown involved searches of seven locations spread across Orangetown, Clarkstown, Ramapo and Haverstraw. According to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe, police seized tens of thousands of dollars in cash as well as heroin, powder and crack cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and oxycodone.

The investigation, which took place over the span of two months, turned up dozens of separate instances of open air drug sales among busy main roads in in downtown areas of the villages of Spring Valley, Haverstraw and Nyack.

“These arrests are just the latest results of a coordinated law enforcement and prosecutorial anti-drug initiative that has produced long sentences for dangerous criminals and safer neighborhoods for our residents,” Zugibe said in a press release. “We will continue to work together with our local, state and federal partners, elected officials and community leaders to keep our families safe.”

The vast majority of the suspects were no strangers to police. Out of the 22 suspects brought in, 19 had prior convictions or pending charges for drug and weapon offenses, assault, theft, criminal impersonation, criminal mischief, criminal trespass and parole violations.