Liquor store owner arrested after cocaine and gun bust in New Rochelle
NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A local liquor store became the center of a criminal investigation when detectives raided Amir’s Wine and Spirits on Main Street, uncovering drugs, loaded firearms, and a suspected operation hiding behind a legitimate business front.
On Friday afternoon around 3 p.m., detectives from the New Rochelle Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division executed a search warrant at the store located at 701 Main Street, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering. Police allege that the store’s owner, 28-year-old Amir Babiker of New Rochelle, had been distributing cocaine while running the licensed liquor business.
During the search, investigators recovered two loaded handguns — a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a .32-caliber Derringer — along with approximately 21 grams of cocaine packaged for street-level sale. Both weapons were seized as evidence, and authorities later confirmed one of them had been reported stolen.
Babiker was taken into custody without incident and charged with multiple drug and weapons offenses, including two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal possession of a firearm, and possession of stolen property. He remains held without bail pending arraignment in New Rochelle City Court.
Police have asked anyone with additional information related to drug trafficking or illegal firearms in the city to contact their anonymous tip line at (914) 632-COPS or through the department’s non-emergency number at (914) 654-2300.