According to this patch.com article, two major heroin distribution networks in Southern New Jersey have been busted, leading to the arrests of thirty-four people who were responsible for importing roughly 50,000 doses into Ocean County each week.
“These simultaneous operations are incredible investigative feats,” Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato stated. Multiple law enforcement agencies including federal, state, county and local departments participated in the massive investigations which began in December 2014 and ended this week, seizing an amount of heroin with a street value in excess of $325,000.
According to patch.com, the investigations focused on high level heroin distributors that were operating in Union, Ocean, Monmouth and Atlantic counties and Philadelphia.
The two heroin networks imported more than a kilogram of heroin, or 50,000 individual doses into Ocean County every week. Furthermore, the investigation identified locations in Toms River where members of the network would prepare and package the raw or uncut heroin for re-distribution into individual dosage units.
“This investigation is continuing and additional arrests are forthcoming,” Coronato said.
Possession and distribution of heroin are serious indictable offenses that may carry years in jail, enormous fines, and other penalties. Ocean County Superior Court will certainly have its hands full in the coming months.
