Heroin ring shattered, DA Spota says; news conference set for Tuesday

A heroin and cocaine drug ring with "door-to-door" delivery for frequent users has been broken up after authorities arrested two primary suppliers and 19 others accused of selling 7 kilograms of illegal drugs every two weeks, the Suffolk district attorney's office said.

More than $200,000 in cash, packaging material and several weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, were seized, District Attorney Thomas Spota said in a news release Monday night, and will be displayed Tuesday at a news conference.

He said the ring sold 5 kilos of heroin and 2 of cocaine every two weeks in Suffolk.

"Buyers met with sellers on side streets near Sunrise Highway or the LIE, and some steady purchasers merited door-to-door delivery of heroin," Spota said. Most users bought a "bundle" of heroin, or 10 bags, he said.

Using wiretaps, undercover buys and surveillance, investigators identified Juan Smith, 25, of Valley Stream, and Elvis Castro, 28, Amityville, as two key suppliers, Spota said. Online court records show they were arrested July 30.

Both men have been charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, and each has been held with bail set at $5 million, authorities said.