Three drug traffickers were arrested in North Bergen on Wednesday, leading to another arrest in South Jersey and the seizure of $9.6 million in heroin, police said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Jesus Carrillo-Pineda, 30, of Sierra Mojada, Coahulia, Mexico, Daniel Vasquez, 27, Jesus Yanez-Martinez, 21, both of Somerton, A.Z., were charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and conspiracy, the New Jersey State Police said in a news release.
Additionally, Omar Rodriguez, 37, of Willingboro, N.J., was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of paraphernalia, officials said.
During a month-long investigation, State Police detectives from the Trafficking North Unit determined that one or more of the suspects were involved with drug trafficking.
On Wednesday, June 28, State Police detectives along with members of the North Bergen Police Department located and arrested Carillo-Pineda, Vasquez, and Yanez-Martinez in the parking lot of a business in North Bergen Township after observing an alleged drug transaction, authorities said.
The arrests resulted in the seizure of 40 kilograms of heroin.
Then, on Thursday, June 29, State Police detectives from the Trafficking South Unit continued the investigation with assistance from Willingboro Police Department, and conducted a search at 78 Berkshire Lane in Willingboro, N.J.
As a result, detectives arrested Rodriguez and seized 80 kilograms of heroin, 3 kilograms of methamphetamine, 50,000 Percocet tablets, 3 kilograms of suspected fentanyl, and paraphernalia consistent with distribution.
“There’s no question that multiple lives were saved by this record-level seizure of heroin and fentanyl,†Attorney General Christopher Porrino said in a statement.
“The 120 kilos of heroin seized by this team over the past two days would have been cut into millions upon millions of individual doses of heroin, made even deadlier if laced with the lethal fentanyl that was also seized. Beyond causing addiction and overdoses, these drugs, had they not been intercepted, would also have fueled immeasurable violence often associated with street-level drug dealing.”
“Large scale narcotics trafficking investigations require significant cooperation, intelligence, sharing and trust among agencies,†add Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.
“A seizure of this proportion is only possible through the combined efforts of our law enforcement partners.â€
Carillo-Pineda, Vasquez, and Yanez-Martinez were lodged at Hudson County Jail and Rodriguez was lodged at Burlington County Jail. All are awaiting bail hearings.
This case is being prosecuted by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice.
They make it sound like this was significant and makes a difference. This one got caught but there were 5 more large quantity that made it. The beat goes on.
Thank you NBPD for all you do to keep our streets safe.