New York City’s Red State Problem

Staten Island, known for its brisk prescription painkiller business, seems to be the place in the city to procure hillbilly heroin:

Prescription pills were illegally sold for $20 a pop alongside bagels and beer at a Staten Island deli, officials charge as part of a sting that led to 25 arrests.

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Nel Boy Bagels on Amboy Road in Great Kills was targeted as part of an investigation begun last fall dubbed Operation Bitter Pill, officials announced on Saturday.

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Undercover detectives bought 2500 Oxycodone pills, 368 Percocet pills and 245 Xanax pills as part of the sting, along with 300 grams of cocaine and two assault weapons, a Tec-9 and a 9mm gun, officials say.