By SÍLE MOLONEY

NEW YORK ATTORNEY General Letitia James attends the inauguration of bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson on Feb. 1, 2026, at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts. State Comptroller Tom Di Napoli is seated to her left.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Friday, April 10, what was described as a coordinated enforcement action to stop the illegal sale and distribution of “dangerous, unregistered pesticides” in New York City.

 

Officials from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said they staged a surprise inspection of three wholesale warehouses in The Bronx and served cease-and-desist letters as part of an ongoing investigation into a hazardous pesticide supply chain.

 

“New Yorkers should never have to worry that the products being sold in their communities could seriously harm their families,” said James. “These illegal pesticides are dangerous and unregulated, and my office is taking action to stop the flow of these products at its source. I am grateful to DEC for its partnership in protecting public health and keeping our communities safe.”

 

Officials said the enforcement action found and quarantined illegal pesticide products in two of the three warehouses. They said illegal pesticides pose serious health risks to humans and need to be disposed of securely to prevent contamination. They said the pesticides targeted in OAG’s enforcement action are often misused for household pest control, which they said is particularly dangerous given the lack of proper ventilation.

 

Meanwhile, DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “The use of unregistered pesticides is unlawful in New York State and poses potential significant risks to human health and the environment. She added, “This coordinated effort involving DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement and Bureau of Pesticides Management and the Office of the Attorney General should serve as a reminder to wholesalers, distributors, and retailers across the state that DEC and our partners will be out in force this spring and summer to ensure the proper and legal use of pesticides as we work to protect families in New York City and beyond.”

 

OAG officials said the investigation is focused on the illegal sale of “Sniper,” a highly toxic, unregistered insecticide that they said has been linked to numerous poisoning cases reported to the New York City Poison Center.

A DEAD RAT is seen on East 205th Street and Lisbon Place in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx in the early hours of Friday morning, April 10, 2026.
Photo by Síle Moloney

As part of its investigation, OAG officials said the department has been working to identify the importers and distributors bringing what they described as “this dangerous product” into New York. They said the investigation uncovered evidence that certain wholesalers in The Bronx are part of the supply chain for these products, prompting this week’s coordinated enforcement action.

 

They said at the warehouses, DEC inspectors identified and quarantined illegal pesticide products, prohibiting their sale or distribution. They added that at the same time, an OAG investigator served cease-and-desist letters ordering the businesses to immediately stop all illegal activity.

 

Officials added that it is illegal to sell or distribute pesticides in New York that have not been approved by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the DEC. They said many of the products under investigation are especially dangerous for household use and pose significant risks to children and families.

 

James thanked DEC for what she described as the department’s collaboration and partnership on the matter, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

 

Norwood News has asked the OAG if they can confirm where in The Bronx the surprise inspections were carried out and will share any updates we receive.

 

Officials said the case is being handled for OAG by Assistant Attorneys General Channing Wistar-Jones of the Environmental Protection Bureau and Adam Shoop and Kurtis Falcone of the Harlem regional office, with assistance from Investigative Specialist Lorenzo Hernandez and Environmental Scientist Amelia Grant-Alfieri, under the supervision of Environmental Protection Bureau Chief Lemuel M. Srolovic and Deputy Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Harlem regional office, Roberto Lebron.

 

They said the Environmental Protection Bureau is a part of the division for social justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux, and the Harlem regional office is a part of the division of regional affairs, which is led by Deputy Attorney General Jill Faber, both overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.