homework - Drug Kingpin

Click HERE to watch. Read the story. Answer the questions.

Bronx ( 5/13/2010) - Police officers from several different agencies swooped into 1571 Undercliff Avenue in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx Wednesday and arrested several people for allegedly running a major drug operation.

"Innocent men, women and children had to live in fear of the drug dealers who used 11 apartments to stash, sell, and cook drugs for street level sales," said DEA agent Wilbert Plummer.

A total of 11 apartments were raided, along with three other Bronx locations in what was called Operation Siesta. In all, 15 people were arrested and indicted. Officers on the federal, state and city level investigated the case for six months.

"We worked together on this using wire tapes and confidential informant information," said DEA agent Glen Coughlin.


Agents say the crew's leader is Jose Delorbe a.k.a Culebra -- which means "snake" -- is being held without bail. Officers say they also have him on video carrying a gun into the building after a shoot out last November. He will be the first alleged drug dealer to be tried under the state's new drug kingpin statute which could carry a life sentence behind bars.

Under the law, a kingpin is someone who oversees the sale of more than $75,000 in drugs over six months. Authorities say this crew's take was a lot more, with about $50,000 in sales and purchases a day in the Bronx and in other states.

"What it was that we seized was one day's work for this organization. They turned over the narcotics very quickly. If they brought in a kilo of cocaine they sold that kilo very, very quickly," said Bridget Brennan New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

People who live in the building and surrounding block say they have known for years that 1571 has been a hot spot for drug dealing.

Those who spoke with NY1 did not want their faces to appear on camera, saying they fear drug dealers will target them for speaking out.
"It got to be so bad that I'm scared to come in my apartment," said one neighborhood resident.

Questions:

1) Where did this story take place?

2) When did this story take place?

3) What is the address where the raids took place?

4) How many apartments were raided?

5) What is a kingpin?

6) How many people were arrested?

7) Why were the people who lived in the building afraid?

Info and video from NY1