MAJOR HEROIN RING BROKEN, FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY
By LEONARD BUDER
SEPT. 21, 1983

Federal authorities said yesterday that they had smashed a major drug importation and distribution ring with the arrest of seven people and the seizure of more than 59 pounds of heroin with an estimated street value of $65 million.

Thomas Sheer, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's criminal division in New York, said that the heroin had been brought to this country from Italy by ship on Sept. 13, hidden in hollowed-out wooden pallets containing ceramic tiles intended for a Buffalo tile company.

United States Customs agents discovered the drugs and Federal authorities secretly confiscated some of them, substituting a harmless white powder for 39.6 pounds of heroin.

Shipment Tracked to Buffalo
Salvatore R. Martoche, the United States Attorney for the Western District, who took part in a news conference at the F.B.I.'s headquarters at 26 Federal Plaza, said that Federal authorities then set up an elaborate surveillance operation. It tracked the shipment from Elizabeth, N.J., to Buffalo and enabled law-enforcement agents to observe the actions of those involved. Part of the shipment was then brought to New York City. Six of the suspects were arrested yesterday in the New York area, where 20 pounds of heroin were seized. One arrest was made in Buffalo. Another man - Filippo Ragusa, 51 years old, of 61-12 Gates Avenue in Queens - is being sought.
Officials said that, in addition to the 59.6 pounds of heroin, $390,000 in cash and several weapons had been confiscated.

Those arrested in the New York City area were Lorenzo Scaduto, 32 years old, of Dix Hills, L.I.; Salvatore Bartolotta, 31, of 58-75 Fresh Pond Road, Queens; Angelo Golio, 62, of 1428 Stadium Avenue, the Bronx; Michael Altamura, 56, of 59-14 Maspeth Avenue, Queens, and Pietro Graffeo, 49, and Domenico Logalbo, no age given, both of Sicily. Andrea Aiello, 43, of Buffalo, was arrested in that city.

Authorities said all were being charged with conspiracy to import and distribute heroin.