Wyckoff Fugitive Laid Low in Toronto Before Arrest

BY ALLISON PRIES

The Record

STAFF WRITER

WYCKOFF – An international fugitive, captured this week in Toronto, kept a low profile in his Cedar Hill Avenue neighborhood.

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WYCKOFF – An international fugitive, captured this week in Toronto, kept a low profile in his Cedar Hill Avenue neighborhood.

Myfit “Mike” Dika, 45, was wanted by the FBI for selling heroin by the kilogram and ecstasy tablets by the thousands to an undercover officer.

Several meetings were recorded between June 2007 and August 2008 involving the officer, Dika and his co-conspirators as they met up in Elmwood Park, Clifton, Fort Lee, Paterson and Atlantic City.

Wads of cash were traded back and forth as the undercover officer sold untaxed cigarettes and bought drugs - at first ecstasy, then heroin and later prescription morphine pills.

But some neighbors in the quite pocket of mostly bi-level homes, tucked beside Route 208, seemed unaware of Dika’s illegal activities – even after he was featured last November on America’s Most Wanted.

“They have a few dogs,” was all Darlene Gilmore knew of her next door neighbors.

The Dika home, which property records say was purchased by his wife in 1997 for $285,000, has been extensively remodeled. Built in 1936, the now 4,533 square foot brick-front colonial has its rear toward Cedar Hill Avenue, with a buffer of evergreens. Situated on the corner of James Way the home is surrounded by just over an acre. The 2008 property taxes were $17,967.55.

Public records show the home was supposed to go into a foreclosure auction in September in lieu of $1,193,822.48. Dika’s wife filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in May.

Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox said his department had no dealings with Dika.

“We’ve been aware of the ongoing investigation and warrants,” Fox said. “But there’s no in-house history of involvement.”

When the FBI is looking for someone, the person’s local police department is customarily notified, Fox said.

“In this instance there was still believed to be family living there,” Fox said. “There’s always potentially a connection with family.”

Dika was arrested in Toronto Monday after initially giving police false identification. He had a first appearance in a Canadian court Tuesday and is expected to be extradited, although a spokesman at the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not know how soon the extradition might happen.

Myfit “Mike” Dika, 45, was wanted by the FBI for selling heroin by the kilogram and ecstasy tablets by the thousands to an undercover officer.

Several meetings were recorded between June 2007 and August 2008 involving the officer, Dika and his co-conspirators as they met up in Elmwood Park, Clifton, Fort Lee, Paterson and Atlantic City.

Wads of cash were traded back and forth as the undercover officer sold untaxed cigarettes and bought drugs - at first ecstasy, then heroin and later prescription morphine pills.

But some neighbors in the quite pocket of mostly bi-level homes, tucked beside Route 208, seemed unaware of Dika’s illegal activities – even after he was featured last November on America’s Most Wanted.

“They have a few dogs,” was all Darlene Gilmore knew of her next door neighbors.

The Dika home, which property records say was purchased by his wife in 1997 for $285,000, has been extensively remodeled. Built in 1936, the now 4,533 square foot brick-front colonial has its rear toward Cedar Hill Avenue, with a buffer of evergreens. Situated on the corner of James Way the home is surrounded by just over an acre. The 2008 property taxes were $17,967.55.

Public records show the home was supposed to go into a foreclosure auction in September in lieu of $1,193,822.48. Dika’s wife filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in May.

Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox said his department had no dealings with Dika.

“We’ve been aware of the ongoing investigation and warrants,” Fox said. “But there’s no in-house history of involvement.”

When the FBI is looking for someone, the person’s local police department is customarily notified, Fox said.

“In this instance there was still believed to be family living there,” Fox said. “There’s always potentially a connection with family.”

Dika was arrested in Toronto Monday after initially giving police false identification. He had a first appearance in a Canadian court Tuesday and is expected to be extradited, although a spokesman at the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not know how soon the extradition might happen.

The indictment alleges:

- July 18, 2007 — The undercover officer met with Dika and three others at the Royal Warsaw Restaurant in Elmwood Park where they discussed ecstasy distribution.

- August 19, 2007 — The officer met with Dika in an apartment in Atlantic City. Dika took the officer’s two cell phones and placed them in the bathroom, he explained, to prevent law enforcement from listening to their conversation. Dika and the officer discussed trading untaxed cigarettes for ecstasy and made a deal for 5,000 ecstasy pills. Dika also discussed smuggling narcotics into Greece.

- On or about August 30, 2007 — The officer recorded a meeting with Dika and two others at an apartment in Paterson where they discussed the sale of ecstasy, contraband cigarettes and heroin. The officer asked Dika how much heroin was available for purchase and Dika showed three fingers, indicating three kilograms of heroin. The officer then handed Dika $13,500 in cash and another person handed the officer a bag containing about 2,900 ecstasy tablets.

- Sept. 12, 2007 — During a meeting at an Elmwood Park bar, Dika offered to sell the undercover officer one and a half kilograms of heroin for $90,000 and the officer agreed. Dika then invited the officer to come along for a meeting with his heroin supplier.