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Authorities Seize 8 Kilos Of Cocaine From Jackson Heights Home

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Authorities said Monday they've nabbed two drug traffickers and their stash of more than 8 kilos - about 18 pounds - of cocaine.

Wilmar Florez-Jimenez, 30, and Alvaro Montonya, 50, have been charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Criminal Using Drug Paraphernalia.

The arrest went down in Jackson Heights. New York State Police investigators say they saw Montoya hauling a large plastic garbage bag out of a building on 81st Street in the early afternoon back on May 14. Montoya allegedly tossed the bag into an SUV and drove off.

Police stopped him a short while later. The plastic bag contained a tire rim, with part of the tire still attached, police say. Authorities say they quickly deduced that the tire was being used to transport bulk quantities of cocaine inside it.

They picked up Florez-Jimenez shortly thereafter as he left the building. He was allegedly carrying a small amount of cocaine.

After they got a search warrant, authorities say they turned up more than six kilos of cocaine in a hidden compartment inside a dresser with a false back. Another two kilos were allegedly found in an oven. They say they seized $68,000  in cash from the bedroom.

Police say they found a wide variety of drug packaging equipment including a scale, grinders, baggies and more.

Can more be done to combat drug trafficking? Sound off in our comments section below. 

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