Federal and municipal officials disclosed a significant advancement in the battle against the opioid crisis on Friday, unveiling the dismantling of three extensive fentanyl packaging operations—often referred to as mills—located in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan.
The collaborative operation, carried out on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, culminated in the confiscation of around 42.5 kilograms (exceeding 90 pounds) of fentanyl, with an approximate market value of $7.5 million.
The Operation: Conflict Area and Taliban Labeling
Agents from the DEA’s New York Task Force Division and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor conducted court-sanctioned searches at three residential sites situated within a three-mile proximity of one another.
Authorities characterized the conditions within the residences as sophisticated narcotics manufacturing facilities. In a Belmont residence, authorities discovered glassine packets drying in a heated oven and a tray of fentanyl positioned beneath heat lamps to expedite the packaging procedure.
The pharmaceuticals were being labeled with titles intended to promote their strength, featuring insignias such as War Zone and Taliban (accompanied by a depiction of a firearm).
Targeted Locations
The three mills functioned autonomously yet in close vicinity to vulnerable community zones:
Bronx Mill 1: 1560 Selwyn Avenue (Concourse/Mount Eden)
Bronx Mill 2: 2411 Prospect Avenue (Belmont) — situated merely a few blocks from the Bronx Zoo, Arthur Avenue, and two nearby educational institutions.
Manhattan Mill: 515 West 183rd Avenue (Washington Heights)
Casualties of the Mission: K9 Involvement
The peril associated with these operations was highlighted during the Belmont raid when Mulk, a narcotics detection canine from the NYPD, started exhibiting signs of fentanyl exposure. K9 Mulk was promptly attended to and is anticipated to recuperate, but authorities used the occurrence to emphasize the severe instability of the synthetic opioid.
Detentions and Allegations
Eight individuals were apprehended and indicted on multiple charges related to the unlawful possession of a controlled substance and the illicit use of drug paraphernalia. In the Washington Heights area, officials also seized two fully loaded firearms—a . 357 revolver and a 9mm Beretta—resulting in further weapons-related accusations.
“The quantity of fentanyl confiscated is immeasurable concerning the lives it potentially could have claimed,” stated Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark. Operating these facilities within residential structures adjacent to educational institutions and the Bronx Zoo demonstrates a blatant indifference towards our community.
Community Influence
The DEA observed that the 90 pounds of confiscated fentanyl equates to millions of possible fatal doses. The inquiry remains active as officials examine the supply network that supplied the essential materials for these large-scale mills.
