Sucre Almanzar-Alba, Fentanyl Trafficking, New York 2022

Bronx, NY – A massive haul of fentanyl, enough to kill millions, has landed a Bronx man in federal custody. SUCRE ALMANZAR-ALBA, 43, was arrested after allegedly attempting to distribute a kilogram of the deadly opioid and was found with nearly 20 more kilos stashed in his home. The bust represents a significant, though temporary, dent in the relentless flow of fentanyl fueling the nation’s opioid epidemic.

The takedown, announced jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), unfolded on January 13th and 14th, 2022. Almanzar-Alba allegedly met with a confidential source to hand over a kilo of fentanyl before law enforcement raided his residence, uncovering a staggering 19 additional kilograms. DEA Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Tim Foley bluntly stated the seizure represented “nearly 10 million doses of the most dangerous illegal drug to ever hit the streets.”

“As alleged, the defendant trafficked huge quantities of fentanyl, the major driver of the opioid epidemic plaguing this country,” declared U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “Thanks to our law enforcement partners, nearly 20 kilograms of this deadly drug – which amounts to millions of lethal doses – have been taken off the street.” The scale of the operation suggests Almanzar-Alba was a significant link in a larger distribution network, though investigators have yet to detail the source of the fentanyl or the intended final destination.

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell emphasized the collaborative nature of the investigation. “Illicit fentanyl distribution destroys lives and devastates communities,” she said. “Today’s federal complaint reflects the unrelenting focus by the NYPD and its law enforcement partners, working together, to rid our city of these and other deadly drugs and to build strong cases against those who would deal in them.” The investigation was spearheaded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) New York Strike Force, a multi-agency unit involving a dozen federal, state, and local agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service.

ALMANZAR-ALBA is charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, a federal offense carrying a potential life sentence. While the maximum penalty is steep, the final sentence will be determined by the presiding judge. Almanzar-Alba presented before Hon. Barbara Moses, United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of New York, and remains in custody awaiting further proceedings. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Mead is prosecuting the case.

The charges against Almanzar-Alba are, at this stage, merely accusations. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the sheer volume of fentanyl seized paints a grim picture of the ongoing struggle to stem the tide of this deadly drug and the devastating impact it has on communities across the nation.

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