Cops busted 45 suspected drug dealers and users during a huge, months-long Queens crackdown that also netted weapons and blow, authorities said today.
This crackdown has been going on since late last year and culminated with the arrest of James “Wall” Corley a week ago yesterday, police said.
Corley, 51, was a key figure in infamous the “Supreme Team” gang, which was a major player in the crack epidemic that tore apart New York in the 1980s. Remaining members of that gang have morphed into today’s Jamaica-based Southside Bloods, cops said.
The Supreme Team was tied to the 1988 murder of NYPD officer Eddie Byrne, slain while he guarded a witness’ home in a marked patrol car. Corley’s drug-related arrest last week had no connection to Byrne’s murder, but cops said they were pleased to bring him down.
“While Corley was not charged in the murder of Eddie Byrne, generations of police officers will take no small satisfaction in the fact that an associate of his killers has been brought to justice,” Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
The arrests included 25 gang members and dealers and 19 users, police said. One additional suspect fell into both categories.
Cops seized 1.5 kilos of cocaine, more than 50 decks of heroin, marijuana, $70,000 cash, four handguns and an Intratec 9mm sub-machine gun.
They also seized three machines, generally found in auto shops to bend metal.”Pressers” expel liquid from drugs so they can be packaged into easy-to-transport bricks.