In a significant operation in Orange County, authorities arrested thirty individuals in what may be one of the largest drug and gun busts in the county’s history. The operation centered around the Real Spice food truck in downtown Newburgh, where many of the seized weapons and drugs were reportedly being sold.
On May 21, following a six-month investigation, law enforcement agencies confiscated dozens of firearms and multiple kilos of cocaine and fentanyl. The food truck itself was also seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
Kirkland Salmon, 42, the owner and operator of the food truck, is among those facing serious charges that could result in a 25-year prison sentence. Authorities revealed that the trafficking ring operated with a sophisticated four-tier structure, with guns sourced from North Carolina and drugs, primarily cocaine, originating from Florida.
Prosecutors noted that a local barbershop functioned as a stash house for some of the illicit proceeds, with the enterprise estimated to generate over $3 million annually.
The investigation involved nearly 40 different law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the NYPD, which utilized undercover officers to make purchases related to the operation.