New York, NY – A coordinated Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) operation has led to the arrest of 19 individuals allegedly running a sophisticated drug trafficking network inside Washington Square Park, the iconic public space adjacent to New York University (NYU).
The bust comes after the tragic overdose death of 18-year-old Bailey Shaw from Aspen, Colorado, highlighting the deadly stakes of fentanyl distribution.
Washington Square Park: From Campus Oasis to Drug Hub
For decades, Washington Square Park has been a cultural and recreational hotspot for NYU students, chess players, street performers, and locals. However, authorities say drug activity has long cast a shadow over the area. While early dealing in the 1960s mostly involved marijuana, the modern operation has escalated to a sophisticated, organized criminal enterprise.
According to Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New York Division, the investigation revealed that Shaw obtained the fentanyl linked to her fatal overdose directly from the park. “Because the threat was real and caused the death of an 18-year-old, we looked more closely at the park,” he said.
Organized Crime and Deadly Narcotics
The DEA’s probe uncovered two major groups controlling the park: the Bloods Team, a subset of the West Coast Bloods gang, and the Livigni Team, reportedly overseen by John Livigni, a 25-year veteran of local drug trafficking. These crews operated a structured system with managers supervising street-level dealers and shifting resources to avoid detection…