The U.S. Attorney’s office says that seven people have been charged as part of a drug trafficking operation in the Rochester area.
And authorities say that ongoing investigation and the attempt to execute a search warrant is related to the incident on Burbank Street in Rochester on Monday where police shot and wounded two men.
The U.S. Attorney’s office says the alleged drug dealers were involved in transporting and selling cocaine as well as being involved in violence that was part of the drug trade.
Authorities say that one of the suspects, 39 year old Carlos Javier Figueroa, is the leader of the drug operation, which officials say involved cocaine being shipped via the Postal Service from Puerto Rico to various locations in Rochester. Officials say since last September, at least 23 packages were sent from Puerto Rico to addresses associated with the drug trafficking organization.
Authorities say surveillance led them to Burbank Street, which is where they believe Figueroa lived.
RPD says as its officers were pulling up to a house on Burbank Street on Monday morning, at least one shot was fired at the officers, and the cops shot back, hitting the two men.
Rochester Police say that the two men shot by police on Burbank Street include an 18 year old and a 20 year old. Authorities say the preliminary investigation shows that five officers from four law enforcement agencies returned fire. No police officers or bystanders were hit by the gunfire.
They say the 20 year old man was shot in the upper body and lower extremity and is in serious condition in the hospital. The 18 year old is being treated for a non-life threatening wound to the upper body.
Federal authorities say that with search warrants, they seized six assault rifles, two loaded handguns, more than two kilograms of cocaine and a quantity of what they believe is heroin and fentanyl.
Besides the U.S. Attorney’s office and Rochester Police, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was involved, along with the U.S. Border Patrol, as well as the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s office, and Greece and Brighton Police.
The seven people arrested face charges related to cocaine distribution.
