Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the interception of an unlicensed interstate cannabis operation that transported thousands of pounds of illegal cannabis product from California into Queens. Six people were charged and more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of approximately $2.5 million, was confiscated as well hundreds of packages of cannabis product, following a search of two trucks and two storage locations in Maspeth and Long Island City.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendants ran a large-scale operation, illegally transporting thousands of pounds of illicit cannabis into this borough. The seizure of these types of THC products that are sold illegally very often lead to harm in our communities. It is the reason that legal shops go through a rigorous approval process by the state. Thanks to the work of my Crimes Strategies and Intelligence Bureau, in close collaboration with the New York City Sheriff, NYPD and the DEA, none of these unregulated products will be used to poison New York City residents.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said: “This was an alleged cross-country criminal enterprise that brought more than a ton of illicit marijuana and other cannabis products into New York City for illegal sale on our streets — undermining legitimate businesses. These traffickers showed complete disregard for the law, exploited the integrity of licensed marijuana marketplaces, and put Maspeth and Long Island City residents at risk with unregulated poisons. I’m grateful to the NYPD investigators, the Queens District Attorney’s Office and all of our law enforcement partners for shutting this operation down and holding these six individuals accountable.”

New York City City Sheriff Anthony Miranda said: “I want to thank the DEA New Jersey Division and the Queens District Attorney’s Office for their continued partnership and collaboration. Together, we remain committed to protecting our communities and ensuring public safety. Illegal and unlicensed marijuana operations not only jeopardize the health and well-being of our neighborhoods, but also undermine the legal framework designed to bring economic and social benefits to New York City. By working together, we’re holding bad actors accountable and helping build safer, healthier communities for all.”

DEA New Jersey Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz said: “Earlier this week, The DEA conducted an operation with the Queens District Attorney’s Office, NYPD, and the New York City’s Sheriff’s Department on a multi-state transportation network responsible for the distribution of illicit marijuana in Queens, NY. This operation resulted in the removal of approximately 3000 lbs. of THC and cannabis products destined for New York City and the Northeast corridor. While cannabis may be recognized as legal in New York State, those traffickers who violate federal law with the operation of their illicit marijuana distribution networks will continue to be the focus of our enforcement efforts.”

Eduardo Lopez, 29, and Courtney Ferguson, 40, both of Mott Street in Manhattan; Emerson Ramos Garcia, 24, of Clearview Expressway in Bayside;  Jose Carbajal Enamorado, 24, of 89^th Street in Jackson Heights; and Erzhena Mitupova, 34, and Anna Migal, 47, both of Talbot Street in Kew Gardens, were arraigned yesterday on a criminal court complaint charging them with criminal possession of cannabis in the first degree.

Judge Glenda Hernandez ordered them to return to court on various dates in September and October. If convicted, they each face a potential maximum of 2 1/3 to seven years in prison.

DA Katz said that, according to the investigation and the charges, intelligence operations began in April 2025 into the ongoing illegal transportation and sale of cannabis products from California to Queens. The product was transported via tractor-trailer-style trucks and delivered to a SecureSpace self-storage unit on Borden Avenue in Maspeth.

Defendants Lopez and Ramos Garcia allegedly received these deliveries at the storage location on a weekly basis. The product would then be divided and transferred to either a storage unit, a distributor or customer vehicles.

On July 30, at approximately 11:10 a.m., Ramos Garcia was observed arriving at the loading dock in a black Dodge Ram pickup truck. Multiple cardboard boxes were allegedly loaded into the pickup and defendant Carbajal Enamorado entered the front passenger seat before Ramos Garcia drove away.

That same day, at approximately 12:10 p.m., defendant Migal arrived at the self-storage facility driving a white Volvo semi-tractor trailer bearing a California license plate. The Volvo had a trailer attached to the truck bearing a Maine license plate. Defendant Mitupova was in the passenger seat of the Volvo.

Migal and Mitupova were greeted by Carbajal Enamorado, Lopez and defendant Ferguson. Lopez and Ferguson then allegedly began to unload the truck, removing multiple boxes and bringing them inside the storage facility.

At approximately 5 p.m. that same day, court-authorized search warrants were conducted for the Dodge Ram, the Volvo, the storage unit and an additional storage facility on 30^th Street in Long Island City.

Officers recovered 1,847.70 pounds of THC flower, including hundreds of one-pound pre-packed bags, as well as hundreds of pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes, 998.50 pounds of THC vape pens and a vacuum seal machine for packaging and distribution.

A check with the New York State Office of Cannabis Management revealed that none of the defendants, nor either of the storage facilities, possessed a license to sell cannabis in the state.

The joint investigation was conducted by members of the Queens DA’s office, DEA’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area 2 from the New Jersey Field Division and the New York City Sheriff NYPD Cannabis Task Force.

DA Katz would like to thank Chief Giacomo Sacca and Director Earl Graves from the Elizabeth Police Department for their crucial assistance.

The case investigation was conducted by Assistant District Attorney Brandi Kligman, Assistant Deputy Chief of DA Katz’s Crime Strategies and Intelligence Bureau, with assistance from Intelligence Analyst Gurkamal Sandhu and Supervising Intelligence Analyst Victoria Filipe, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Shanon LaCorte, as well as members of the DA Katz’s Detectives Bureau under the supervision of Lieutenant Joseph Oliver and Sergeant David Moore, and under the overall supervision of the Chief Investigator of the Detective Bureau Robert LaPollo.

Assistant District Attorney Candice Smith of the District Attorney’s Major Economic Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Kieran Linehan, Section Chief of the Major Narcotics Unit, and Mary Lowenburg, Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard Brave.