A dozen suspects linked to a Staten Island heroin and cocaine ring have been busted, thanks in part to a new program aimed at uncovering where overdose victims bought their drugs, authorities said Friday.
The Overdose Response Initiative was created in February because of Staten Island’s high rate of opioid and prescription drug abuse.
On Wednesday, police and the Staten Island district attorney’s office said the new tactic paid dividends with the arrest of six alleged dealers.
While executing search warrants at seven locations, police recovered heroin, cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana plus drug paraphernalia, the DA’s office said.
Six other suspects, including a 70-year-old woman, were arrested at those locations and charged with drug possession or drug use.
District Attorney Michael McMahon said that “by investigating all overdoses through our Staten Island Overdose Response Initiative, law enforcement can more effectively take down the dealers responsible for flooding our communities with heroin and other illicit narcotics.”
The investigation started in January and involved numerous buys made by undercover cops.
The ring was centered in Midland Beach, McMahon said, with its dealers also peddling drugs in numerous other neighborhoods including Dongan Hills, New Dorp and Port Richmond.
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