The Jerusalem Post, Internet News Article, July 20th,
2001:
Two Israelis
arrested in largest drug bust in NYC history
By Melissa
Radler
NEW YORK (July 20) - Two Israeli citizens were arrested
Tuesday night in Manhattan on drug possession charges after police
seized more than a million Ecstasy tablets, the largest drug bust in
New York City history.
Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik announced Wednesday that David
Roash, 25, and Israel Ashkenazi, 28, both of Tel Aviv, were being
held in Queens Criminal Court pending drug possession charges. The
two face eight and a half years to life in prison if convicted.
The pink, blue, and white Ecstasy pills, which weighed a total of
450 pounds and have a street value $40 million, and nearly $200,000
in cash were found in a studio apartment near the financial district,
said Keric at a press conference. Keric said the two Israelis entered
the US on May 22 and were identified as wholesale drug dealers by
detectives from a Queens narcotics unit. He declined further
comment.
In 2000, police seized a total of 385 pounds of Ecstasy, said
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown at the conference. Brown's
office is handling the case.
"There are a million less Ecstasy pills in the city that won't get
to our kids, to the clubs, and schoolyards," Kerik said.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said at the news conference, held at police
headquarters, that he hopes the drug bust "will go a long way to
interrupt the purchase and the sale of Ecstasy, and also remind
people how dangerous it is."
