Jamaican food truck seized in massive New York drug bust; 30 arrested
A Jamaican food truck was seized and 30 persons arrested Tuesday in a massive drug bust in Orange County, New York.
Police said that during a six-month-long investigation, dubbed operation ‘Hot Lunch’, they uncovered a sophisticated drug and gun trafficking ring based out of a truck selling Jamaican food that for years was parked outside the city courthouse in Newark, New York.
Additionally, dozens of weapons disguised in takeaway boxes, kilos of cocaine and fentanyl were also seized.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said that the Real Spice Jamaican food truck sold guns, cocaine and Jamaican cuisine, noting that the owner, Kirkland Salmon, was the mastermind of the sophisticated operation.
“The food truck operated right next door to the city courthouse, within 150 feet of the city courthouse, it sold food, it sold guns, and it sold cocaine,” said Hoovler.
Police say the drug and gun trafficking ring had a sophisticated four-tier structure and guns were supplied from North Carolina and drugs, mainly cocaine, came from Florida.
The 42-year-old owner and operator of the food truck, believed to be a native of Jamaica, is one of the 30 people facing a slew of charges.