A “major” drug trafficker was arrested after authorities seized a car outside his home loaded with more than 35 kilos of cocaine and fentanyl and $420,000 in cash, officials said Tuesday.
George Capella, 45, was arrested on December 4 after an eight-month wiretap investigation that also led federal agents to eight loaded weapons in a car parked outside his Williamsburg home.
“The discovery of more than 80 pounds of cocaine and fentanyl, eight loaded guns and $420,000 in a residential area of Williamsburg is surprising, even to seasoned investigators,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan.
“Cash, drugs and paraphernalia seized from the defendant’s cars and home have all the hallmarks of a large-scale drug packaging and distribution operation.”
The kilogram-shaped packages featured luxury brand names and symbols, including Moet and Louis Vuitton.
Officers, armed with search warrants, inspected a Honda Accord parked outside Capella’s home on Leonard St. as well as a Lincoln Aviator that they stopped as Cappella drove away in it.
Using wiretaps and surveillance, agents and officers recovered packages containing approximately 33 kilograms of cocaine and more than 6 kilograms of fentanyl, eight loaded firearms and one imitation handgun, in addition to search warrants, officials said.
Three of the weapons were found in a hidden compartment in the Honda. Agents also seized approximately $420,000 in cash.
Inside the Lincoln, they found a scale that appeared to be covered in drug residue and an additional cell phone.
Inside the home, officers found more drugs, along with equipment needed to package narcotics, including a kilogram press machine, a scale and a variety of stamps, officials said.
“Once again, a major drug trafficker has been taken off the streets of New York City,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino III. “The seizure of more than 33 kilos of cocaine, 6 kilos of high-purity fentanyl and the number of weapons seized demonstrate the threat Mr. Capella posed to the community, as well as the health risk to those he distributed.”
Officials said the drugs were packaged in various types of plastic packaging, including packaging with an image of the “Star Wars” character “Baby Yoda.”
A small amount of fentanyl was dyed pink. Laboratory analysis also identified heroin among the drugs seized.
Capella was charged with operating as a major trafficker, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. He was ordered held without bail.
