Heroin Busts Put Dealers Out of Commission

Local parents and school officials fighting the heroin epidemic in our areas scored a big win Tuesday when the FBI dismantled a major heroin distribution ring that stretched from Brooklyn to the south shore of Suffolk county, resulting in several local arrests.

The bust, a joint effort between the FBI, the Nassau County police and the Suffolk County police, broke up "The Perez Organization," a network of dealers and distributors. Locally, Tina Catrini (alias Tina Bonghi), 29, of Farmingville; Matthew Catrini, 24, of Farmingville; Josephine (Josephina) Javis, 50, of West Islip; Ronald (Pops) Stern, 68, of Blue Point; and Corey Stern, 37, of Blue Point .

Also nabbed in the sting were Roland Stern, 68, a retired Suffolk County Marine Bureau officer. His daughter, Corey Stern, 37, was also arrested, according to Newsday.

The news is the latest in regional law enforcement's fight to take down heroin traffickers. In January, authorities shut down Of the 161 people arrested in that bust, dozens were from the Smithtown area.

And in that same month, police arrested , 62, of Nesconset, for allegedly buying heroin.

The rash of heroin use in schools has led to many school programs, but one community group, Kings Park in the kNOw, has taken the fight straight to residents, with its own events as well as .

With all of this going on, we wonder, are local parents feeling like the war is being won? Local blogger, Michael Brady, shared a story with us about how finding an empty bottle of oxycodone at the high school track had him thinking on how to protect his own children.

At the same time, we'd love to give you the opportunity to share with the community how you talk to your kids about avoiding such addictive and devastating drugs. Let us know in the comments.