A group of would-be gangsters from Uzbekistan was apprehended on Wednesday for allegedly stealing $4.5 million worth of cigarettes, premium cheese, and other goods from warehouses throughout the northeast, according to sources.
The group’s leader, Murad Hasanov, reportedly blended modern techniques with classic mob-style tactics. They hacked computer networks to create fraudulent invoices, persuading warehouse employees to hand over valuable goods without resorting to violence, law enforcement stated.
When not on the move with trucks loaded down with cigarettes, seafood, gourmet cheeses, meats, and copper wire, Hasanov and a partner led a lavish lifestyle, driving luxury vehicles and flashing cash in clubs situated near the ocean in Brighton Beach and Coney Island, authorities noted.
According to one law enforcement source, “They acted like they had binge-watched every gangster movie ever made, emulating the Hollywood version of American gangsters. It’s like they were living out the great American dream, the Cosa Nostra way.”
Police arrested Hasanov, who seemed taken aback, in the early hours on Wednesday following a raid at a high-rise apartment on Surf Avenue, which had views of the Coney Island Boardwalk.
Officers seized a collection of records, a computer, and a cellphone during the operation.
Two additional suspected crew members were also taken into custody, and all three are set to face charges of first-degree grand theft and conspiracy, stemming from a collaborative investigation involving the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Port Authority Police Department, and New York City Police Department.
One law enforcement official indicated that Hasanov and his alleged associates entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration and do not speak English.
“They can’t communicate in English. It’s a mystery how they managed to navigate things,” the source remarked.
Investigators are examining whether this Brooklyn-based group is linked to a broader network involved in similar criminal activities across the country.
Manhattan Prosecutor Alvin Bragg, along with other officials, was expected to disclose more details about the case at a news conference later on Wednesday.
Hasanov and the others are scheduled to appear in Manhattan Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, though it remains unclear who their legal representatives will be.
