Federal prosecutors charge alleged drug trafficking leader accused of bringing more than $100 million worth of cocaine into Long Island

New York, New York – Federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment charging a man they say directed a massive cocaine trafficking operation that brought thousands of kilograms of drugs from Puerto Rico into Long Island over several years.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Omar Morales-Negron, also known as “O,” faces charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, along with two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Authorities said Morales-Negron was arrested in Florida on July 14, 2026, and is expected to appear in federal court in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.

The arrest and indictment were announced by United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr., Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas, DEA Northeast Associate Chief of Operations Frank A. Tarentino III, and FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr.

Officials allege Morales-Negron oversaw an international drug trafficking network that supplied enormous amounts of cocaine to Long Island while using hidden compartments and disguised shipments to avoid detection.

“As alleged, the defendant coordinated the shipments of massive amounts of cocaine into our Long Island community,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “For years Morales-Negron profited from his international trafficking and taking advantage of end users who are addicted to his drugs. These charges will hold him accountable for the harm he has wrought.”

Investigators say cocaine was hidden inside furniture and fake electronics shipments

According to the indictment, the alleged trafficking operation began in 2019 and continued through the present.

Federal investigators claim Morales-Negron organized large shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Long Island using several transportation methods.

One of the primary techniques allegedly involved concealing cocaine inside pieces of furniture that were shipped by ocean freight to the continental United States. Once the shipments arrived, members of the organization allegedly loaded the furniture onto trucks and transported it to warehouses in New York, including locations within the Eastern District of New York, where the drugs were prepared for distribution.

Authorities also accuse Morales-Negron of using United Parcel Service shipments to move cocaine into New York.

According to prosecutors, these packages were labeled as electronic parts and were supposedly sent by a fictitious Puerto Rico business identified in court documents as Company-1. Investigators said each shipment weighed nearly the same amount and was delivered to John F. Kennedy International Airport before being collected by members of the organization for distribution across the United States.

HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas described the alleged operation as a significant source of illegal narcotics entering the region.

“As alleged, Omar Morales-Negron directed a criminal pipeline that moved thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico into Long Island, hiding drugs inside furniture and sham electronics shipments to flood our neighborhoods with poison. By dismantling this operation and seizing hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, HSI New York and our partners have cut off a major source of narcotics that fuels addiction, violence, and instability in our communities. HSI, as a leader of the Homeland Security Task Force New York, together with HSI Tampa and our law enforcement partners will continue to combine intelligence, investigative authorities, and resources to confront transnational criminal organizations and safeguard the American people,” stated HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas.

Hundreds of kilograms of cocaine seized during investigation

The investigation resulted in several major cocaine seizures.

On January 29, 2026, authorities intercepted 312 kilograms of cocaine, which investigators valued at approximately $20 million. Prosecutors said the shipment originated from Company-1 in Puerto Rico and arrived at JFK Airport before being collected by a member of the alleged drug trafficking organization driving a U-Haul truck.

Later that same day, Nassau County Police detectives observed what they believed was a hand-to-hand drug transaction in the parking lot of a hotel in Plainview, New York. When officers approached, they reportedly discovered numerous open suitcases containing what appeared to be kilogram packages of cocaine.

A second major seizure occurred on July 3, 2026, when law enforcement recovered 153 kilograms of cocaine valued at roughly $10 million from a shipping container in Queens.

Together, the two seizures totaled 465 kilograms of cocaine.

Investigators also recovered business ledgers that allegedly documented the organization’s operations. According to prosecutors, those records indicated the trafficking network distributed more than $100 million worth of cocaine on Long Island.

DEA Northeast Associate Chief of Operations Frank A. Tarentino III said the investigation exposed the enormous scale of the alleged organization.

“By concealing cocaine inside furniture and shipments disguised as electronic parts, Omar Morales-Negron deliberately attempted to evade law enforcement while fueling addiction and violence throughout Long Island and our region” stated DEA Northeast Associate Chief of Operations Tarentino. “As alleged, Morales-Negron operated a sophisticated drug trafficking organization responsible for moving thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico into New York. The seizure of more than 465 kilograms of cocaine, coupled with investigative findings indicating the distribution of more than $100 million worth of cocaine on Long Island, underscores the immense scale of this operation. Thanks to the hard work of the DEA, our prosecutors, and our law enforcement partners, Morales-Negron is now in New York to answer for the harm he inflicted on the very communities he sought to poison.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. added, “Omar Morales-Negron allegedly trafficked large quantities of cocaine right into our backyard. Drug trafficking tears at our communities, fueling violence, addiction, and instability. The FBI, with its partners, continues to disrupt these operations to protect our neighborhoods.”

Federal officials emphasized that the indictment contains allegations only. Morales-Negron is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, he faces up to life in federal prison.

The case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Long Island Division and is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, a multiagency effort focused on investigating and prosecuting transnational criminal organizations, drug cartels, gangs, and other criminal networks operating in the United States.