A Bronx man is facing felony drug charges after authorities say they uncovered nearly 10 pounds of suspected fentanyl inside his apartment, prompting the evacuation of parts of the building, including two daycare centers.
According to the city’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office, agents executing a search warrant Monday at an apartment on Morris Avenue found surfaces and the floor coated in white powder after the suspect allegedly tried to dispose of narcotics.
What You Need To Know
Authorities say nearly 10 pounds of suspected fentanyl were seized from a Bronx apartment on Morris Avenue
Investigators say airborne narcotics powder prompted the evacuation of parts of the building, including two daycare centers
Antonio Cabrera, 62, is charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia
The arrest comes just months after two former Bronx daycare operators were sentenced in the fentanyl poisoning death of a toddler
“It was like something out of ‘FBI’ because it was agents everywhere,” said a neighbor who said his name was Bobby G. “They had cars parked up the block, they had all these boxes for evidence.”
Prosecutors said investigators had been watching 62-year-old Antonio Cabrera for about a week before entering the apartment on July 13. As agents moved in, they allege Cabrera was seen cupping narcotics powder in his hands and tossing it toward a window.
Authorities said the powder became airborne, leading officers to evacuate the apartment and other areas of the building as a precaution, including two daycare centers on the first floor.
Investigators recovered nearly 10 pounds of suspected fentanyl from the apartment.
“Very scary because people have their children in places,” said neighbor Valerie Turner. “To know drugs was in the air, I feel so bad that that happened.”
No injuries were reported.
NY1 spoke with staff members at both daycare centers, who declined to speak on camera.
One daycare owner told NY1 that all of the children in their care were safe, but described the situation as frightening.
Cabrera is charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. He is being held without bail.
The arrest comes months after a former Bronx daycare owner and her husband were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in the fentanyl poisoning death of a toddler at their daycare.
Prosecutors said the couple had been operating a drug distribution business from the facility, which was located just over a mile from the apartment targeted in Monday’s raid.