X, NYC Special Narcotics Prosecutor @snpnyc, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

Juan Rondon, a 60-year-old Bronx resident originally from the Dominican Republic, was recently arrested after law enforcement officials discovered a substantial amount of drugs and money concealed within his apartment.

The NYC Special Narcotics Prosecutor shared news of the bust in a press release on Friday. DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino reported that authorities found 12 kilos of cocaine and $3 million in cash hidden in secret compartments of various furniture items in Rondon's Norwood home.

“A multi-million-dollar drug den looked like any ordinary apartment until our agents and investigators uncovered hidden compartments in various pieces of furniture filled with contraband,” Tarentino said.

The arrest took place on a Wednesday afternoon when Rondon was observed carrying a bag into and then out of 3405 Gates Place. He was apprehended by drug agents, found in possession of cocaine, and holding the keys to Apartment 2A. Upon searching the apartment, with assistance from a New York State Police K9 Unit, officials uncovered the concealed stash.

“Dressers, nightstands, and a coffee table contained large hidden compartments stuffed with bags of cash,” officials revealed. “Money was wrapped in bundles and labeled with dates spanning the past several years.” Additionally, at least ten luxury watches from prestigious brands like Rolex and Cartier were discovered in a hidden compartment within a nightstand.

Despite the significant finds of cash, drugs, and jewelry, the apartment appeared to lack advanced security measures. Rondon, who was deported in 2006 for reasons not disclosed, faces charges of operating as a major trafficker and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees. He was denied bail and is currently detained at Rikers Island.

NYC Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan commented on the operation, highlighting the absence of security features in Rondon's apartment as indicative of overconfidence in the concealment of his illegal activities.

“Over a span of years, an accused major trafficker apparently squirreled away more than $3 million, filling secret compartments inside furniture to the brim with bundles of cash wrapped together in rubber bands, expensive watches, and kilograms of cocaine,” Brennan stated. “An absence of special security equipment or fortified locks on the nondescript apartment suggests misguided confidence.”

The New York State Police and the NYPD were integral to the investigation, with Police Commissioner Edward Caban acknowledging the multiagency effort's role in combatting the distribution of illicit drugs in New York City neighborhoods.