35 pounds of heroin are found in handbags

www.nj.com Thursday, January 23, 2003 By Michaelangelo Conte Journal staff writer

WEST NEW YORK - U.S. Customs agents intercepted 35 pounds of heroin hidden in a shipment of handbags bound for West New York, U.S. Customs officials said yesterday.

On Friday customs agents arrested Rafic Nahle, 41, of Brooklyn, and Nelson Pulecio-Barrera, 33, of Plainfield, when agents followed the handbags to their destination at Venise Verde LTDA, a company Nahle recently started on Bergenline Avenue at 55th Street, officials said. Try Our Classifieds

The men are charged with conspiracy to import and distribute heroin, and if convicted could face life in prison, officials said.

The heroin, which has a $3.3 million "street value," arrived at JFK International Airport on Jan. 11 and was hidden in-between the cardboard lining of a shipment of 90 leather purses in 12 crates, officials said. The shipment came from Venezuela via Miami, officials said.

U.S. Customs agents allowed the shipment to be delivered to West New York. They arrested the two men at the Bergenline location, officials said.

Last year, U.S. Customs agents working in "Operation Tonquista" broke up a narcotics smuggling ring which recruited "mules" from Memorial High School in West New York and used them to smuggle drugs in their stomachs from South America, officials said.

"Operation Tonquista" resulted in the arrest of 60 people and the seizure of 220 pounds of heroine, officials said.

Michaelangelo Conte can be reached at mconte@jjournal.com.