GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. — The Erie County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday afternoon they had made a drug bust in Grand Island amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.
Authorities in the county held a press conference to announce the seizure of $40,000 worth of cocaine, nearly six pounds of psychedelic mushrooms and 120 chocolate bars infused with psychedelic mushrooms. They also arrested 29-year-old Jay Mudra of Grand Island in connection to the bust.
At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, the Narcotics and Intelligence Unit performed a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Mudra just past his house on River Road in Grand Island. Detectives conducted a search of his car and later searched his home, finding over a kilogram of cocaine as well as other drugs and $20,000 of cash they believe is drug money.
The seizure followed a three-month surveillance operation.
“It can happen anywhere at any point,” Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia said. “This individual was probably very comfortable in Grand Island in a peaceful community.”
Mudra was arraigned Friday in Erie County Court and is facing nine charges, six of which are felonies. If convicted, he could face up to 40 years in prison. He was released on bail and does not have a return date yet set.
Authorities say the cocaine recovered in Mudra’s vehicle is purely cocaine, but the additional cocaine and other drugs in his home are being tested for fentanyl.
The Erie County Sheriff urged the public to understand how dangerous these narcotics are and that drug dealers can exist anywhere at any point.
"We're talking about mushrooms, candy bars,” he said. “The kids are not going to know what is in this chocolate bar many times until they do it… You might make just one mistake in your life, and it'll be your last mistake.”
Related Video: