Brooklyn apartment converted into fentanyl manufacturing operation, feds say

Federal authorities announced the arrests of two men accused of operating a fentanyl manufacturing operation out of a Brooklyn apartment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Kareem Antoine Turner, 47, of Brooklyn, and Alexander Daravina, 45, of the Bronx, were arrested April 13 and ordered detained after appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. They face charges of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, offenses that carry mandatory minimum prison sentences of 10 and five years, respectively, and potential life terms.

Authorities allege the pair converted a residential unit into a large-scale “pill mill,” outfitted with industrial equipment used to manufacture fentanyl-laced tablets. According to the criminal complaint, the apartment contained a high-capacity pill press capable of producing roughly 4,800 pills per hour, a hand-cranked press, and two kilogram presses, along with other tools used to process narcotics.

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam said the defendants “allegedly transformed an apartment into a fentanyl processing plant,” warning that such operations pose serious risks not only to users but also to nearby residents. She described the setup as a “potential death sentence” for others in the building due to the dangers associated with fentanyl production.

Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso said cases like this highlight how illicit narcotics operations can infiltrate residential communities. He noted that such activities “turn ordinary apartments into covert pill mills that imperil entire communities,” emphasizing the broader public safety threat.

Investigators said electronic evidence recovered during the probe included photographs of the manufacturing site, messages discussing assembly of pill-press equipment, and documents detailing fentanyl production processes. Authorities also cited images and video communications allegedly showing Daravina handling drugs and firearms.

During a court-authorized search of the apartment, agents recovered kilograms of fentanyl and other narcotics in both powder and pill form, as well as precursor materials used in drug manufacturing. Law enforcement also seized two loaded firearms hidden inside a speaker, one equipped with an extended magazine.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton praised the coordinated efforts of the DEA, HSI, and other law enforcement partners, including the New York State Police, in dismantling the alleged operation.