At the age of 43, Victor Rodriguez is in a predicament, facing a mountain of accusations as illicit drugs of a huge sum upwards of $10 million and an arsenal of firearms were discovered in a forsaken residence in Queens, as confirmed by the district attorney’s office.
On the 27th of October, Rodriguez found himself before the court, dealing with an overwhelming 112-count indictment alleging him to be a central figure in a mammoth criminal operation.
The considerable list of charges against Rodriguez includes operating as a master trafficker, being implicated in numerous counts of controlled substance possession of various degrees, multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon of several degrees, and unlawful possession of pistol ammunition, among others.
This cascade of charges arrived in the wake of a major bust that unearthed a significant stash of narcotics and weapons illicitly kept in a deserted domicile. This development is an illustration of law enforcement’s tough stance against crime and the continued efforts in containing the surge of illicit activities.
In an unusual twist to this tale, it wasn’t the diligent work of law enforcement officials which led to the breakthrough, rather it was the foresight of a contractor brought on board due to the recent sale of the implicated property.\
During their scheduled work on the property, located on a serene 88th Road, the contractor stumbled across the illegal stash in May. What they found was a house of horrors that even the wildest imagination would be hard to conjure.
Prompted by what the contractor found, a search warrant was swiftly secured for a thorough search of the property. The ensuing investigation conducted the very next day painted an even darker picture of what was initially discovered, leading to an astonishing revelation of the extent of criminal elements lurking within the suburb.
The search yielded large quantities of narcotics including but not limited to heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. Around 1.5 million suspicious envelopes containing a cocktail of either heroin or fentanyl were discovered, estimated at a staggering street value of approximately $10 million.
An additional quantity of eight kilos of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl were found, valued at around $500,000 on the street, adding another layer of illegality to an already sinister scenario.
In addition to the enormous volume of drugs, a bag containing an illicit mix of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, coupled with the opioid pain medication Tramadol, was discovered.
And for every illicit drug operation, there are countless tools of the trade, which were indeed found in numbers, from thousands of vacant envelopes, three substances presses used for large-scale drug packaging, to respirator masks and electronic scales, commonly seen in the drug manufacturing and packaging underworld.
However, the terror was not only found in drugs. An assortment of firearms was uncovered, shedding light on the volatility of this case considering the potential damage these weapons could have inflicted had they been used.
Featured amongst the arsenal were five loaded P80 9mm ghost guns, a loaded 9mm Derringer semi-automatic pistol, a loaded .38-caliber revolver, and what the law refers to as ghost gun kits – including unfinished frames, hinting towards a firearm assembling operation.
Also adding to the weaponry inventory were a Glock 17 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, a .38-caliber Derringer semi-automatic pistol, a Smith and Wesson 9mm semiautomatic pistol, and a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol.
The sheer diversity and number of these weaponry demonstrate the comprehensive nature of this criminal outfit, raising an alarm about the ever-evolving nature of criminal activities and the measures taken to combat it.
Alongside firearms, a whopping 25 high-capacity devices used for feeding ammunition were found, as well as over 200 rounds of miscellaneous ammunition such as 9mm, .40 caliber, and .38 caliber. A handheld Dremel drill often employed to construct or put together ghost guns was discovered, adding conviction to the firearm assembly suspicion.
Few may appreciate the digital advancement on such unlawful operations. However, evidence of technology was also found within the premises, a DVR digital recorder. Four cellphones were also found within the property, possibly hinting at the level of coordination and communication necessary for such a substantial operation to take place and go unnoticed.
Connecting the discovered conducting with Victor Rodriguez were two parking tickets for a Blue Infiniti SUV, which were tied back to him. The breadth and depth of charges against Rodriguez is not only representative of his alleged involvement but also speaks volumes about the series of actions undertaken by the authorities to snuff out such illicit operations…
The ability to uncover around 1.5 million envelopes of narcotics, substantial volumes of hard drugs, and a stockpile of diverse firearms stand testament to the relentless pursuit of illegal measures by law enforcement bodies.
This case ultimately shows that all levels of the community from the judiciary, law enforcement, and even private sectors such as contractors, play an integral role in ensuring that neighborhoods are safe and secured. No amount of sophistication or disguise can ultimately enable a criminal operation to outmaneuver the long-arm of law enforcement.
This tale of a 43-year-old man and a forsaken house shows us that anyone in possession or associated with such illicit operations could be just one contractor away from facing justice. As more cases like this surface, the narrative sends a clear message that no one engaging in such dangerous and illicit activities is beyond the reach of the law.