George Capella, 45, of Brooklyn, NY, was arrested on December 4 following an eight-month wiretap investigation, known as Operation Interstate Powder, led by the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF) Group T-11. The operation involved agents and officers from the DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and the New York State Police.
According to the DEA, law enforcement officials conducted surveillance on Capella’s residence during the investigation. Around noon on December 4, Capella was observed retrieving two kilogram-sized packages of narcotics from a black Honda Accord parked near his building.
Later in the afternoon, Capella was seen leaving the residence in a Lincoln Aviator with New Jersey plates. NYDETF Group T-11 agents stopped the vehicle, detained Capella, and recovered seven cellphones.
Searches of both vehicles, registered to Capella, yielded shocking results. Authorities seized 33 kilograms of cocaine, more than six kilograms of fentanyl, $420,000 in cash, and eight loaded firearms. Some of the drugs found were marked with high-end logos, including “MOËT,” “AMIRI,” and Louis Vuitton symbols. Three of the firearms were hidden inside a compartment in the Honda.
“This seizure, which included over 85 pounds of cocaine and fentanyl, along with a large cash stash and firearms, underscores the magnitude of this operation,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan. “It’s a stark reminder of the scale of drug distribution happening right in residential neighborhoods.”
Capella’s arrest is part of an ongoing effort by law enforcement to dismantle major drug trafficking networks operating in New York City.
