Schenectady PD: Raid leads to largest drug seizure in city history

SCHENECTADY -- Police say they seized 4,342 packets of heroin during a drug raid in what they say could be the largest heroin seizure in the city's history.

The Schenectady Police Special Investigations Unit and the Special Operations Squad executed warrants at 529 Mumford St. and at 921 Norwood Ave. the morning of October 9th and arrested three people in their ongoing investigation into heroin drug sales in the city, Schenectady Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Eric Clifford said Thursday.

In addition to the heroin, which has a street name of "Kiss of Death," police seized crack cocaine and a stolen loaded .38 caliber handgun, said Sgt. Clifford.

The total street value of the seized drugs is estimated to be over $85,000.

The following men were arrested in connection with the drug raids:

- 41-year-old Jorge Rivera, of 529 Mumford St., on two counts of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and two counts of felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance 

- 24-year-old Timothy Colon, of 921 Norwood Ave., on felony criminal possession of a controlled substance, three counts of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, felony second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

- 18-year-old Rafael Gonzalez, of 2013 Avenue B., on felony criminal possession of a controlled substance, felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

Police also arrested another individual later in the day after an anonymous caller notified police that a suspicious individual was looking toward the Norwood Ave. house that had been raided. 

Responding officers identified the person described by the caller and recovered a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, said Sgt. Clifford. They arrested 23-year-old Mink Ans Jean Francois for felony second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, felony fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, felony willful defacement of a weapon, misdemeanor second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Police say they've arrested several individuals in the past several months for possession of "Kiss of Death" and have raided several homes tied to the sale and use of heroin.

According to Sgt. Clifford, the use of heroin has been on the rise in and around the city. The most common users, said Sgt. Clifford, are between the ages of 18 and 30, and typically tend to come from outside the city to purchase heroin.