The 8-week initiative of the Bergen County prosecutors office as led to the arrest of three FLOW residents from Oakland and Franklin Lakes, as well as numerous residents from neighboring towns like Wayne, Mahwah and Pompton Lakes.
There were 325 individuals arrested in total and 11,794 bags of street-packaged heroin and 1200 grams of raw heroin were seized. The raw heroin, when packaged for street sale, would yield approximately 60,000 bags of heroin.
In addition, thirty-two guns and about $25,000 were also seized. This investigation was the result of a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force consisting of local and county law enforcement agencies from Bergen, Passaic, Morris, and Sussex Counties.
Beginning last month, officers from the multi-jurisdictional drug task force targeted “open air” heroin markets in Paterson, New Jersey. During the course of the operation, officers arrested approximately 280 heroin users.
Task force officers identified the dealers of those arrested, and then presented users with rehabilitation options. Of those caught up in the sweep, the task force identified and arrested over suspects believed to be dealers. During these arrests and search warrants, detectives seized thirty-two (32) guns, approximately $25,000 in U.S. currency, and approximately 1200 grams of raw, powder heroin. The raw heroin, when packaged for street sale, would yield approximately 60,000 bags of heroin. The total street value of the seized heroin is well over $350,000.00. Task force officers also dismantled 2 heroin “mills” where heroin was being packaged and stamped for sale on the streets of Paterson.
This initiative represents the continued commitment of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office to partner with other law enforcement agencies to proactively combat the current heroin epidemic facing our communities in a holistic manner that includes a combination of enforcement, rehabilitation, and education.
Prosecutor Molinelli states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and would like to thank the following law enforcement agencies for their invaluable assistance in support of this joint initiative:
Last year, NJ passed the Good Samaritan law which allows people to call 911 to report an overdose without fear of being arrested for possession. As Governor Christie stated when signing the bill, “We want you to save a life first. The deal we’ll make is we won’t prosecute or arrest you. I would rather you didn’t do it in the first place, but I live in the real world.”
http://www.bcpo.net/bcpo/blog/images/2014_Heroin_Initiative_Arrests_Page_1.jpg
http://www.bcpo.net/bcpo/blog/images/2014_Heroin_Initiative_Arrests_Page_2.jpg
http://www.bcpo.net/bcpo/blog/images/2014_Heroin_Initiative_Arrests_Page_3.jpg
http://www.bcpo.net/bcpo/blog/images/2014_Heroin_Initiative_Arrests_Page_4.jpg
http://www.bcpo.net/bcpo/blog/images/2014_Heroin_Initiative_Arrests_Page_5.jpg
http://www.bcpo.net/bcpo/blog/images/2014_Heroin_Initiative_Arrests_Page_6.jpg