Spadola And Carney Begin Cleanup Of Former Drug-linked Property In Wilmington

Councilmember James Spadola works to remove graffiti on the former drug-linked property at 114 North Union Street in Wilmington, Delaware. (Photo by Yesenia Taveras)

Councilmember James Spoadola and Governor John Carney work to remove graffiti on the former drug-linked property at 114 North Union Street in Wilmington, Delaware. (Photo by Yesenia Taveras)

WILMINGTON— Councilmember James Spadola is leading an effort to reclaim one of Wilmington’s most notorious properties at 114 North Union Street.

On Monday, Spadola welcomed Mayor John Carney to the site, where they joined forces to remove graffiti that had marred the building for years.

“This building has been an eyesore for far too long,” said Spadola. “I appreciate Mayor Carney, the City of Wilmington’s Constituent Services Division, and Downtown Visions for joining me in starting the cleanup. Removing graffiti is just the first part, the more important step will be putting this property in the hands of a new owner who can truly revitalize it.”

History of the property

The property, once owned by Zemi Property Management Inc., became infamous when its former owner, Omar “El Tigre” Colon, and his wife Shakira Martinez, were convicted of operating a multimillion-dollar drug trafficking and money laundering ring with ties to the Sinaloa cartel.

Their activities made national headlines after the seizure of millions of dollars in drugs and cash, along with the discovery of an underground bunker at their Bear, Delaware home.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) recently received ownership of the North Union Street property after a successful court case brought by the United States Department of Justice. ORE Financial is currently managing the property as interim caretaker until it goes up for auction, opening the opportunity for a new owner to bring it back into productive use.

Looking ahead

Spadola emphasized the importance of this next phase: “I also want to thank the U.S. Department of Justice, who prosecuted this case, and ORE Financial, who is managing the property until auction. Both have kept me informed throughout the process and ensured this property is finally on the path to redemption.”