Feb. 17–SPRINGFIELD GARDENS, N.Y. — A six-month undercover drug investigation that uncovered a massive drug ring at two Queens housing complexes has led to the arrests of 62 people, police announced Thursday.

Officials say the defendants involved in the ring sold $107,000 in drug paraphernalia which included cocaine, heroin, marijuana, oxycodone, ecstasy and benzylpiperzine to undercover NYPD officers.

During a raid of 14 apartment units, 60 pounds of marijuana, $30,000 in cash and six vehicles were among items that were seized.

According to officials, the investigation into the drug ring was launched in August 2010 when frustrated residents at the Baisley Park Houses and the Rochdale Village development in Springfield Gardens reached out to the NYPD’s Queens Narcotics Division to complain about the constant drug activity.

“”The vast majority of the residents of these two housing complexes are decent, hard-working citizens who have been virtually held hostage by the gangster lifestyle of a relatively few individuals who are alleged to have operated with near impunity,”” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said a press conference announcing the arrests Thursday.

The accused drug dealers, ranging in age from 16 to 62, are expected to be arraigned in the coming days.

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