Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Do Drug Rings Need Witch Doctors?
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 16, 2004
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 16, 2004
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Brooklyn DA's office busted a huge drug ring that provided a "pizza delivery service" for drugs to middle-class professionals yesterday, but the media is focusing on how the drug ring also used a witch doctor for advice and guidance. The Post describes her as a "bushy-haired, 53-year-old Santeria priestess who advised" the drug dealers "via a Yahtzee-like game of hocus-pocus: putting "magical" objects resembling shells into a special container, shaking it and then spilling the items on a table to "read" the resulting design," telling the drug dealers to make deals at certain times.
Fifteen members of the drug ring, including the priestess, were charged on 133 counts of dealing drugs (cocaine, crack, heroin, Ecstasy) to residents in Bay Ridge and Park Slope. Deana Rodriguez, head of the DA's office gang bureau, said, "She's not a very good Santeria, is she? They're all in jail!" Oh, snap, drug dealers - you got served! Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes, noting the arrests of 10 of the drug ring's clients, said, "This is a message to people who think it's cute to buy drugs on the weekend and go to their summer homes to shoot up and to snort up." [Via Matte]
When Gothamist hears witch doctor, we think the Witch Doctor song from Alvin & The Chipmunks. Ooh eeh ooh ahah, ting tang wallawallabingbang...as for voodoo, it's Cole Porter's You Do Something to Me. But either way, we aren't using voodoo when working on Gothamist. Oh, no, we're using the tried-and-true method of a Magic 8 ball and Ask Gothamist.
Tagged
advice
Ask
ask gothamist
bay ridge
brooklyn
brooklyn da
Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes
charles hynes
cocaine
Cole Porter
crack
design
drugs
gothamist
heroin
media
News: NYC
park slope
people
The Brooklyn
The Brooklyn DA
the post
When Gothamist
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .