Crime & Safety

Flanders Bust Uncovers Drugs, Guns; Two Arrested

Two charged after police and K9 unit search Flanders home.

The war against drugs continued in Flanders after authorities busted an alleged drug den and found large quantities of narcotics, as well as guns.

The Suffolk County East End Drug Task Force, along with the Southampton Town police emergency services unit, the New York State police K-9 unit, and the Riverhead Town police K-9 Unit conducted a search warrant at 96 Cypress Avenue in Flanders on Oct. 24.

The search came after months of complaints from concerned neighbors who reported drug activity in the area. The Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Civic Association raised their concerns over escalating crime, drugs and prostitution in Flanders and Riverside at a meeting in September.

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Inside the home, police said they found quantities of crack cocaine, PCP, prescripton pills, cash, scales, drug paraphernalia, and a handgun. The investigation led to the recovery of two additional semi-automatic handguns, along with ammunition and an inoperable AK47, police said.

Police arrested Natia Yisrael, 37, a resident of 96 Cypress Avenue in Flanders, and charged her with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a felony, criminal posession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a felony, criminal possession of a narcotic drug in the fourth degree, a felony, criminal posession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, a felony, two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree, misdemeanors, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, misdeameanors.

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Also arrested in the bust was Latoya Brown, 18, of Greensboro, North Carolina; Brown was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a misdemeanor.

Southampton Town Police ask that anyone with information on any criminal activity call the Southampton Town Police at 631-728-5000, or the Crime Tip Hotline at 631-728-3454. All calls will be kept confidential. Individuals can also email crimetips@southamptontownny.gov.    


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