Authorities seized over two kilograms of cocaine, two handguns, three high capacity magazines, and about $30,000 in cash as part of a narcotics investigation in West New York.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Rowaldi Caceres, 39, and Hilda Membreno, 29, both of West New York, are each charged with possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine), unlawful possession of weapon while committing a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) offense, possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine) within 1,000 feet of a school, money laundering, three counts of possession of prohibited devices, conspiracy to distribute (cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent to distribute, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.
Additionally, Caceres is charged with possessing firearm parts without a serial number, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of prohibited devices, and endangering the welfare of a child.
On Sunday, February 26th, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force executed a court-authorized search warrant of an apartment shared by Caceres and Membreno.
The search resulted in the recovery of more than one kilogram of cocaine – with the street value of approximately $35,000 – a handgun, three large capacity magazines, and approximately $30,000, suspected proceeds from narcotics transactions.
Caceres and Membreno were arrested at the scene.
The following day, a court-authorized search warrant of Caceres’ car was executed. The search resulted in the recovery of a handgun with hollow point bullets and over two kilograms of cocaine were seized during the course of the investigation.
Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General with the investigation and arrest.