Police: Staten Islanders played key role in cocaine ring

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island man and a former borough resident played key roles in a cocaine distribution ring which brazenly shipped the drugs via parcel post to Manhattan doormen, who signed for the packages, authorities allege.

Nezer Papraniku, 28, of Sunnyside, and one-time Sunnyside resident Lulzim Kupa, 35, sent cocaine to Staten Island and New York from California via FedEx and United Parcel Service, court papers stated.

The duo had the contraband delivered to Manhattan apartment buildings, where doormen were bribed to accept it, authorities said.

The suspects -- Papraniku is known as "Ziti," Kupa as "Luzi" -- parceled out "large quantities" of cocaine to distributors on Staten Island, Brooklyn and elsewhere, court records said.

Besides drug trafficking, Papraniku made bogus credit cards, which he and Kupa sold, legal papers said.

The alleged crimes occurred between 2005 and 2011.

Kupa allegedly has ties to reputed mobster Joseph Sclafani of Prince's Bay. Sclafani was busted in August and accused of running three marijuana grow houses and a cocaine distribution ring on Staten Island.

Sclafani, who in 1989 harbored a fugitive mobster who killed a federal Drug Enforcement Administration agent in Charleston, has not been charged in this scheme.

DENY CHARGES

Papraniku and Kupa have each denied cocaine conspiracy and fraud charges.

Papraniku, whose first name is also spelled "Nezir," has been released from custody on $1.8 million bond, over the objection of Brooklyn federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors said Papraniku was arrested while en route to the airport and a flight to Arizona. He had $20,000 in his bag and a UPS receipt for a package containing $194,000 that Kupa had sent to Arizona, said court records.

Kupa's bail bid was denied as the court deemed him a danger to the community, documents show.

Kupa, who now lives in Connecticut, has an extensive criminal history with convictions for racketeering, fraud conspiracy, marijuana-distribution conspiracy and weapon possession, said authorities.

The racketeering conviction stemmed from Kupa's involvement in a series of bank burglaries that netted more than $1 million, said court papers.

According to those documents, a cooperating witness said Sclafani told Kupa in 2010 to supply the witness cocaine while Sclafani was in prison. The drugs were to be sold to customers of Sclafani and the cooperator.

Between 2010 and 2011, the cooperating witness bought 5 to 10 kilograms (11 to 22 pounds) of cocaine from Papraniku, Kupa and their conspirators, court records allege.

The witness, who communicated with Papraniku and Kupa, said he received at least five deliveries, court papers said. Papraniku typically brought the cocaine to the witness' house. The contraband weighed between 1 and 3 kilograms, prosecutors said.

Besides moving drugs, Papraniku and Kupa also sold phony credit cards, authorities said.

In 2010, Papraniku bought a machine to make the credit cards, court documents said. Papraniku and Kupa allegedly sold the fake cards to other people.

Papraniku's lawyer, John J. Rapawy, did not immediately return a telephone call yesterday seeking comment.

Kupa's attorney, Michael Rosen of Manhattan, yesterday declined comment on the allegations.