⏱ 2 min read
A Niagara Falls man’s mail-based narcotics empire came crashing down in January 2025 when the DEA raided his hotel room, storage unit, and car. Edwin Miguel Batista, 46, pleaded guilty to narcotics conspiracy, facing up to 40 years in prison.
According to court documents, Batista received payments through Cash App from customers ordering pills online. He sourced his supply from an individual in India, who mailed bulk parcels to the US containing various drugs.
Co-conspirator Victor Miguel Brito Luna helped package the pills and drove Batista around as he mailed out parcels. Between December 11, 2024, and January 21, 2025, Batista sent out approximately 1,589 packages, each containing its own deadly cargo. Investigators recovered a staggering 16,577 grams of methamphetamine and ketamine, 2,074 grams of methamphetamine, 548 grams of fentanyl and ketamine, and 932 grams of fentanyl, among other illicit substances.
The sheer scale of Batista’s operation is a grim reminder of the deadly narcotics trade that plagues our communities. As he awaits sentencing, the focus now shifts to his co-conspirator, Victor Miguel Brito Luna, who remains charged and at large.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: New York
- Location: NY
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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