STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan, alongside Staten Island leaders Rep. Max Rose and District Attorney Michael McMahon, called on Albany Saturday to make quick fixes to the new bail reform law to stop the release of those accused of being major drug dealers peddling heroin and deadly fentanyl.

“Are we concerned about bail reform in the narcotics area? Absolutely,” said Brennan at a press conference at McMahon’s office. “There is one seldom used offense in which you can get bail now in New York, it’s called ‘major trafficker,’ and you would think that would encompass all the major traffickers, but it doesn’t.”

Cash bail was scrapped on Jan. 1 for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, including most drug offenses, in the state of New York. The reforms were passed as part of the state budget in April.

McMahon and Brennan have been vocal critics of the law, warning that prosecutors will only be able to seek bail and detention for a just a handful of drug defendants specifically charged with “operating as a major trafficker.”

Even before the law took effect, Brennan said courts released more than 100 high-level narcotics defendants her office identified.

Brennan recalled a case where her office seized 50 pounds of heroin and fentanyl in the Bronx and arrested four alleged traffickers in the bust.

However, she said her office was only able to indict one as a “major trafficker” and the three other accused were able to walk free because of the new law.

Brennan cautioned that large scale drug dealers are “well aware” of the new bail reform law too.

“These are not low-level offenders and as we know from so many … these are also not nonviolent offenders,” she continued.

“Our own governor must take the reins on this and understand that a mistake was made, changes must be made or time after time we will be seizing large supplies of drugs only to see another 50 pounds [of deadly drugs] come back again -- and why wouldn’t it when there are no consequences?”

Their plea to Albany comes as moderate Democrats in Albany including state Sen. Diane Savino are trying to make changes to the state’s controversial bail reform law by pushing forward legislation that would allow judges to have more discretion to determine whether a criminal defendant should be held in custody or be required to post bail or bond as a condition of pretrial release.

Brennan urged lawmakers to adopt that legislation.

The bail reform impacts on pursuing major drug dealers came on the heels of a bill from Rose that puts sanctions on opioid traffickers with a focus on those from China and Mexico.

“We certainly stand here today urging the state to make critical changes to this recent bail reform law so that we can use the full apparatus of the state to arrest those who are trying to push these horrendous drugs onto our streets,” Rose said.

McMahon said that preliminary numbers from his office found that there were 76 fatal overdoses in 2019, with 61% caused by fentanyl.

“Fentanyl continues to be a driving force behind the majority of fatal overdoses we have seen on Staten Island and it is essential that all levels of government join together and do everything in our power to eliminate this deadly substance from our streets. While we have made serious progress in combating the opioid epidemic – both by holding drug dealers accountable with significant prison sentences and expanding treatment services for those suffering from substance abuse disorder – there is no doubt that fentanyl is still killing our loved ones every day,” McMahon said.

In the coming days, McMahon’s office plans to launch a public awareness campaign about the new bail reform law to inform the public about how it will affect public safety. He is also urging constituents to ask the governor and state Legislature to make changes to the laws.

FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.