Mamakating, NY – Federal prosecutors announced charges against Eddie Ruiz after police uncovered more than 15 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a modified vehicle during a traffic stop in Sullivan County.
Ruiz was arrested on August 29 and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker in Manhattan federal court the following day. He is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to the criminal complaint, Ruiz was pulled over for multiple traffic violations when officers noticed suspicious behavior. A drug-sniffing canine alerted to the presence of narcotics, prompting a search of the vehicle. Inside the trunk, investigators discovered a hidden “trap” compartment containing what appeared to be bricks of cocaine.
“As alleged, Eddie Ruiz was transporting over 15 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment in his specially modified vehicle,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said, calling the case an example of the sophisticated trafficking networks fueling New York’s drug crisis.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said the seizure was part of Operation Summer Heat, an ongoing effort to target narcotics traffickers. “Ruiz’s alleged intentions to introduce addictive narcotics to our neighborhoods greatly jeopardizes the health and wellbeing of those residents,” Raia said.
Ruiz remains in federal custody pending further proceedings.
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Key Points
- Eddie Ruiz, arrested August 29, charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
- More than 15 kilograms of cocaine were found in a hidden compartment of his vehicle.
- The case is part of the FBI’s Operation Summer Heat targeting drug traffickers.
A traffic stop in upstate New York led to the unmasking of a high-stakes drug run.
