NYC man busted with ‘Joe Biden’ branded cocaine stash
Ryan King
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One New Yorker was found with a cocaine package branded with a picture of President Joe Biden.
Reynaldo Almonte, 29, was busted with about $300,000 worth of cocaine in a hidden compartment of his Nissan vehicle, police said. He was indicted in Manhattan Supreme Court on several drug-related charges.
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“Similar to business marketing, drug traffickers brand their deadly product in various ways using hot topic photos, logos, or stamps referencing pop culture and current events,” DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino explained, per FoxNY5.
Dogs in the K-9 unit helped officers discover the secret compartment, which was located near the back passenger section of the vehicle. They also found about $50,000 in cash on the front floor of the car, police revealed.
In total, there were six kilogram-sized packages discovered alongside $7,000 in cash in the compartment. In addition to the Biden one, others had depictions of a cat and the letters “AMG,” according to officials.
Authorities spotted Almonte holding a heavy-looking shopping bag near his car while conducting surveillance in Queens, New York, last month.
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“Cocaine continues to be a significant factor in overdose deaths in New York City,” Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said, according to FoxNY5. “Cocaine has always posed significant health risks, but it is now commonly mixed with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly substances, increasing risks to users. Taking thirteen pounds of cocaine off of our streets will save precious lives.”
Almonte was released on a $300,000 bail bond on Dec. 8.