Evening star., 1953-10-07
New York Youth
Arrested in $4,000
Dope Seizure Here

A 21-year-old New Yorker was
arrested yesterday in the 100
block of Fifteenth street NV.
by Treasury narcotic agents, who
said he was carrying 20 ounces
of "near pure" heroin in q
gaily-wrapped cardboard box.
Treasury Agent LIE Roy Nor
rison described the youth as a
"long-sought source of dope for
District addicts." He said it was
the largest amount of heroin
seized here in about two years.
There is no doubt" the agent
stated, "that this peddler was a
vital source of narcotics for Dis
trict addictS."
The arrest came after months
Of patient analysis of bits of
information gathered here and
in New York and is directly
related to dope arrests made in
the District in the last several
months" the T-man asserted.
$3.50 an Ounce.
Treasury men identified the
prisoner as Mario Fulva Renato
Colucci. He was taken into GUS
tody as he sold an ounce Of
heroin to an undercover agent
for $3.50, they said.
When arrested the sWarthy
youth was wearing an eXpen-
sively tailored brown double
breasted suit. A gray homburg
was perched at jaunty angle
on his dark head.
1T cost me 40 bucks" the
youth proudly stated. "And
these shoes cost Is"
$4,000 Bond Set.
In a hearing today before
United States Commissioner
Cyril S. Lawrence, a bond of
$4,000 was set on Colucci and
his case was continued to Octo-
ber 81.
The accused dope peddler told
Commissioner Lawrence he didn't
have any lawyer because he
didn't know anybody in this
town."
Commissioner Lawrence ap-
pointed Attorney T. E. Nc
Kenzie and Domonic Tesauro as
Colucci's defense counsel.
Treasury agents had set up
squads of men to cover the air.
port, Union Station and other
means of entry to the District.
when we got word that he
had landed at Washington Ma
tional Airport at about s
o'clock" Mr.. Morrison said, I'VE
alerted our agents along the
route we thought he would take.
We had him covered all the way.
Agents Close In.
CAS- we had planned, Colucci
approached our contact man on
Fifteenth street NV, and asked.
him II he had the money. When
he was told the agent had the
money, he handed over some
of the heroin. We closed in
Colucci, taken completely by
surprise. started swinging but
was quickly subdued. the agents
said.
An examination of the gift
wrapped box he was carrying
disclosed 20 cellophane bags.
each Allied with l ounce Of
heroiIa. it was reported. The
current price of good" heroin
on the Districts dope market
is about $3.50 an ounce, agents
said.
'tHeroin as pure as this was"
Agent Morrison explained "can
be 'cut' at least five times before
it winds up in the capsules ad-
diets pay So for. And it's not
uncommon for heroin to be
diluted as much as seven times.
Even if it we're only cut five
times, this amount would bring
in at least $4,000"
Mr. Morrison said Colucci has
no criminal record.
Long Visit in Italy.
I'VE are very much interested
In the fact that Colucci spent
several months in Italy last
year." Mr.. Morrison said.
Much of illegally imported
heroin is known to come from
Italy.
Colucci'S arrest came less than
three weeks after the seizure by
Federal narcotics agents here of
Thomas j. "Bubber" Carswell,
said to be one-time mystery
man" behind Washington's dope
ring.
CarsWell was arrested on Sep
tember 18. He was reputed to
have done a So million business
in the 10 months he was alleged
to have operated. He was the
"Mr. Big" of Washington'S illicit
dope trade after the arrest of