A Secaucus man and his girlfriend from North Bergen were busted for cocaine distribution after a seven-month long investigation, Police Chief Dennis Miller announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
In June 2025, the Secaucus Police Department’s Anti-Crime Unit received information that Mohamed Laib was distributing cocaine from his Paulanne Terrace residence, Miller said in a statement.
During a seven-month long investigation, detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime surveilled Mohamed Laib and observed him actively engaging in the illegal distribution of cocaine.
The investigation revealed Laib was utilizing his Paulanne Terrace residence to store cash proceeds derived from his illicit drug distribution scheme.
The investigation also revealed Mohamed Laib was utilizing his girlfriend’s residence located on the 1400 block of Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen as a location to store his cache of cocaine.
On January 23rd, shortly after 7:00 p.m, detectives observed Laib engage in a drug transaction on Fairview Avenue in Secaucus with Steven Liptai.
Detectives simultaneously stopped Steven Liptai and Mohamed Laib. Both were found in possession of cocaine at the time they were stopped and both were subsequently placed under arrest.
Shortly thereafter, members of the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit, Detective and Patrol Divisions, Secaucus K-9 Unit and North Bergen Police Department conducted simultaneous Court authorized searches of the residences located on Paulanne Terrace in Secaucus and Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen.
Approximately $10,000 was seized from the Paulanne Terrace residence.
Additionally, a large quantity of suspected cocaine and paraphernalia indicative of an illicit drug distribution were recovered from the Paterson Plank Road residence along with additional cash believed to have been derived from nefarious activity.
As a result of these searches, an aggregate quantity of approximately 100 grams of suspected cocaine was seized along with a total of $11,307 in cash.
Furthermore, Laib’s girlfriend, Chelsey Albuja was arrested subsequent to the search of her North Bergen residence.
Laib, 34, of Secaucus was charged with two counts of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine within 500 feet of a public park, two counts of possession of CDS, two counts of money laundering, and possession with the intent to distribute drug paraphernalia.
Additionally, Albuja, 25, of North Bergen was charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine within 500 feet of a public park, possession of CDS, and money laundering.
They were bothc lodged in the Hudson County Correctional Facility, while Liptai, 51, of Secaucus, was charged with Possession of CDS and released on a summons, pending his appearance in court.
“The Anti-Crime Unit is committed to investigating nefarious activity that affects the quality of life of the residents Secaucus. My detectives have my authorization and support to conduct investigations, regardless of what locale it may take them, to foster a complete and thorough investigation, as is evidenced by this case,” noted Miller.
“The dedication to this endeavor by the members of the Anti-Crime Unit is evident and I am proud of their investigative work. I also want to also thank the North Bergen Police Department for their assistance throughout this investigation.”
These charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Tips can be made by calling (201) 330-2049, emailed to spdtips@secaucusnjpolice.gov or submitted anonymously through the department’s website at www.secaucuspolice.org.
