State Police K9 Uncovers $60,000 Cocaine Cache In Subaru Trunk
A seven-month investigation across the Hudson Valley resulted in the arrest of a Newburgh man who moved drugs in a hidden vehicle compartment.
By Yuki Melnyk ·
State law enforcement seized two kilograms of cocaine with a street value of approximately $60,000 from a concealed compartment in a Subaru Outback. The discovery occurred during a traffic stop in Ramapo, Rockland County, on October 30, 2025. A New York State Police canine unit alerted its handler to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle. Officers located a secret storage area within the trunk where they found the bulk of the drugs and an additional bag of cocaine.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the arrest of David A. Herring, III, a 49-year-old resident of Newburgh. The Office of the Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force and the New York State Police led the probe. Investigators determined that Herring moved cocaine from Westchester County through Rockland County to Orange County. The route suggested the drugs were intended for redistribution within the Hudson Valley region.
The investigation began in March 2025. Agents conducted hundreds of hours of physical and covert surveillance. They also reviewed phone records and searched law enforcement databases. The work spanned seven months before the team intercepted Herring in October. At the time of the stop, he was driving back to Orange County after transporting the cargo from Westchester.
James stated that her office aims to protect New Yorkers from trafficking operations that flood communities with dangerous narcotics. She noted that the investigation shut down a specific trafficking network in the Hudson Valley. James thanked law enforcement partners for their collaboration in keeping residents safe.
Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza commented on the cross-jurisdictional nature of the case. He observed that drug trafficking operations do not respect municipal or county boundaries. Sapienza emphasized that such complex investigations require patience and precision. He commended the New York State Attorney General's Office, the State Police, and Yonkers detectives for their coordination.
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said the operation dismantled a dangerous cocaine ring spanning multiple counties. He claimed the interception saved lives and put an end to violence often associated with drug trafficking. The seizure disrupted a pipeline moving drugs through Westchester, Rockland, and Orange counties.
Herring was arraigned in Rockland County Court this month. The case highlights the effort required to track illicit goods moving across regional lines in the state's Hudson Valley corridor.
