Christopher J. Eberhart, and Gabriel Rom

The Journal News

CORTLANDT - Two men targeted in what authorities say is the largest Westchester heroin bust in federal Drug Enforcement Administration history liked Cortlandt's seclusion, so they decided to move their international drug operation into town.

More than 65 pounds of heroin from Mexico, worth an estimated $2.3 million wholesale, was seized this week from a tractor-trailer parked in front of a Sassi Drive home, bringing an abrupt end to what the DEA described as a "major trafficking operation" run from a quiet residential street.

“Members of this sophisticated and well-funded narcotics trafficking organization undoubtedly believed they were home-free when the drugs concealed inside the (trailer) axle went undetected at border crossings and in a trans-continental journey," said New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan. "To further protect their investment, they off-loaded the trailer in a wooded residential area 30 miles from New York City."

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Jorge Ayala, 33, of Greenwich, Conn., and Fernando Quiles, 47, of Fort Worth, Texas, were arrested Tuesday in the culmination of a three-month wiretap investigation. Authorities said they tracked the heroin, hidden in the axle of the trailer, across the Mexico-Texas border and on to Cortlandt. The effort involved numerous federal, state and local agencies.

The pair are charged with multiple felonies, including possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy and use of drug paraphernalia.

Investigators told The Journal News/lohud they believe Ayala and Quiles are mid-level wholesale distributors for a Mexican drug organization. They apparently intended to sell the heroin throughout the Lower Hudson Valley, New York City, Long Island and the Northeast​. Their role was to oversee the shipment's almost 2,000-mile journey from Mexico and work with distributors in the region, according to the DEA. An investigation into the source of their money and drug supply is ongoing.

Quiles and Ayala are accused of renting the large Cortlandt home for $3,500 a month for use as a stash house. Authorities say the house had no furniture and was completely empty except for scales and packaging materials believed to have been used in drug activity.

The two were attracted to Cortlandt, Brennan said, because they thought they would remain undetected and were particularly fond of 4 Sassi Drive's large driveway and wooded backyard. To accommodate the size of the truck, a mailbox and lamp post were moved from the driveway and left on the lawn, along with a shovel.

They apparently also tried to be considerate neighbors; Quiles was arrested as he was raking over ruts on the yard next door made by the tractor-trailer. A handwritten note apologizing for the "moving truck" was found in Ayala's car, Brennan said.

"They just came in Tuesday, so I'm assuming that the intent was to blend in and appear to be moving into the neighborhood," Brennan said. "It's a common practice."

On Thursday morning, residents of the leafy, quiet street said they were shocked at the news.

“There is no crime in this area," said Leslie Rose, who lives with her husband, Bob, across the street from 4 Sassi Drive. "It was a place you wouldn’t suspect.”

Deep tire tracks from the trailer were still visible on the Rose property Thursday.

Bob Rose said the house had been rented to a family who had moved out only a few weeks ago.

"Suddenly the 'for rent' sign came down and we assumed a second family had moved in and rented it,” he said. “Until Tuesday. I turned the corner here, it must have been about noon, and the whole street was loaded with cars.”

As conscientious as they tried to be with the neighbors, Ayala and Quiles were just as careful with the heroin. Investigators spent more than 18 hours looking for the drugs. After coming up empty in the house, agents moved the trailer to a Tarrytown facility where they used sophisticated equipment to find the stash welded behind the axle.

The arrests came after authorities had staked out the house and tapped the phone for weeks. The wiretap ended up tipping investigators to the imminent heroin drop off.

In an early call, Quiles was heard saying he needed a place to park "a trailer for at least one day," officials said.

A week later, using what agents described as coded language, Quiles allegedly said he would take the shipment "out on Tuesday and take it to its destination ... in case it has a tail somewhere." Quiles is accused of calling from New York City.

On Tuesday, investigators said they spotted the detached tractor-trailer, which had been painted, parked in the driveway of the house. Ayala was arrested as he drove away from the residence. Quiles was arrested near the parked trailer.

Both men were arraigned Wednesday night in Manhattan Criminal Court and are being held without bail.

Brennan said the seizure is "significant" because it was destined for distribution throughout the northeast and would have fueled the ongoing heroin problem.

"No one seizure will end the epidemic but it's part of a three-prong approach that includes supply reduction, prevention and treatment," Brennan said. "When (heroin) is so available and it seems like everyone is doing it, it can appear to be safe to young people.”

Staff writers Jorge Fitz-Gibbon and Jonathan Bandler contributed to this report.

Twitter: @GabrielRom1