Less than a week after a one-year-old child died from suspected fentanyl exposure, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) reportedly found the opioid — along with paraphernalia and other drugs — hidden beneath a trapdoor at the late baby’s day care.
RELATED: Parents Speak Out After One-Year-Old Son Passes Away Following Suspected Fentanyl Exposure At Bronx Day Care
Authorities Found Narcotics Beneath The Play Area
According to NBC News, authorities made the discovery on Wednesday (Sept. 20) while executing a search warrant on the Divino Niño Daycare in the Bronx, New York.
During the search, officers found a trapdoor situated beneath the children’s play area, which contained drugs and paraphernalia. Furthermore, a complaint from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reportedly noted that drugs were also stored on top of playmats in a closet.
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Aside from the fentanyl, it’s unclear what other narcotics were found. Ahead of this development, a search only yielded numerous kilo presses, which are used to package large amounts of drugs.
This revelation came on the heels of the day care’s owner — Grei Mendez De Ventura — and her husband’s cousin, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, being hit with federal charges related to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death.
Police have found a large quantity of fentanyl, other drugs and paraphernalia hidden under a trapdoor at a New York City nursery where a boy died from exposure to the opioid.
Police said the volume of drugs could have killed 500,000 people. pic.twitter.com/lJeMwnH8Dd
— Capital Moments (@CapitalMoments) September 22, 2023
The Day Care Facility Passed An “Unannounced” Inspection Earlier This Month
As The Shade Room reported, Nicholas Dominici passed away last Friday (Sept. 15), and three other children at the day care were hospitalized on the same day.
In the wake of Dominici’s death and the owner’s arrest, his father — Otoniel Feliz — told CBS News New York that the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center recommended the facility.
“We spoke to the ones who are in charge … They recommended that place and apparently complied with all of the rules. We were on a waitlist for our son to qualify. Apparently the place passed all of the inspections. Supposedly that apartment was only for day cares, but the rumor is, from what we have heard, they also rented rooms.”
It’s also worth adding that, per the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the day care had its “annual unannounced” inspection on Sept. 6. However, this inspection yielded “no violations,” though Mendez De Ventura’s license has now been suspended as of Tuesday (Sept. 19).
The NYPD is reportedly still investigating the incident, and there are no further updates at this time.
