City narcotics prosecutors say the Bronx has become a popular place for drug smuggling.

The reason for that, they say, is the fact that the Bronx is connected to both northern and southern states by major highways that crisscross the borough. Another contributing factor is the presence of big warehouses and the largest produce market in the world in Hunts Point.

Narcotics officials say smugglers often use tractor trailers to smuggle large quantities of cocaine and other drugs. Just in the last 18 months, 1,600 pounds of cocaine were seized in the Bronx.

Last week, the Bronx narcotics officers found 400 pounds of cocaine concealed in a 16-wheeler truck on Bruckner Boulevard.

?It doesn?t matter how they?re concealed,? says NYC Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan. ?Ultimately, we?re going to find them.?

Felix Conde, of the New York K-9 Task Force, says the narcotics office get tips on drug smuggling operations from informants, who point them to a certain house of truck. Then they put a surveillance team and watch the evidence before making the bust.

The four men arrested in last week?s tractor trailer drug sting were indicted Friday. If convicted, they could face up to 20 behind bars.