Westchester County Police seized more than a half a kilo of heroin and arrested two New York City men on Monday night following a traffic stop on North Avenue in New Rochelle.
Detectives David Minet and Joseph Berardi were on the northbound Hutchinson River Parkway in an unmarked car about 6:05 p.m. when they observed a 2011 Dodge Charger traveling over the speed limit near Webster Avenue. The vehicle exited at North Avenue and the detectives followed it off the highway and pulled it over near The Ursuline School.
When the detectives approached the car, they observed the passenger using his feet to try to hide a bag under his seat. A package containing 1.5 pounds of heroin was subsequently found in that bag.
The package of heroin has a street value of about $60,000 but would be worth much more when broken down into small envelopes for individual sale.
The driver, Michael Contreras, 39, of Corona Avenue, Queens, and passenger Octavio Estevez, 30, of Bainbridge Ave., Bronx, were each charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree, a felony.
They were arraigned today in New Rochelle City Court and ordered held without bail at the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla.
Westchester County Police
Kudos to our Westchester County Police. They sure are making it difficult to transport drugs through Westchester. Keep up the great work.