“Operation Hot Lunch”, the largest gun trafficking case

GOSHEN – Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta and District Attorney David Hoovler outlined the multi-agency investigation Wednesday, saying law enforcement dismantled a $3.3 million cocaine ring dollars in the city of Newburgh and other Hudson Valley communities. Hoovler noted that drugs and guns were being sold from a food truck located 150 feet from the Newburgh city courthouse and did not know they were being peddled with sandwiches.

“Police officers, clerks, individuals all purchased food there at different times during the investigation. They had no idea what was going on there and that’s what allowed them to hide so well,” he said.

Among the agencies working with the Orange County Sheriff and DA were the city police of Newburgh, Middletown and Poughkeepsie, state police, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The investigation revealed that Kirkland Salmon was at the center of four different conspiracies to traffic narcotics and firearms throughout Orange County.

During the months-long investigation, police recovered 31 firearms and more than 12 kilograms of cocaine, 90 grams of fentanyl, high-capacity magazines, several rounds of ammunition, approximately $45,000 in cash, scales and packaging materials used in drug trafficking, 10 vehicles and a food truck.

“The scope and scale of these intertwined conspiracies underscore the importance of dedicated, long-term investigations to disrupt and dismantle drug and weapons trafficking operations,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we have reaffirmed our commitment to protecting our streets from the scourge of drugs and the violence that too often results from them. As I have said repeatedly, if you choose to bring illegal firearms into Orange County, we will find you and hold you accountable. We will not rest while high-level drug traffickers attempt to bring dangerous drugs and weapons into our country. We will use all available resources to seek out these criminal drivers and hold them accountable for their deadly activities.