$360K in cash, property, drugs seized

A new narcotics squad in Newark took two people into custody Wednesday and confiscated more than $310,000 worth of pure, uncut cocaine and nearly $50,000 in cash, jewelry, and two vehicles after a monthlong investigation, authorities said.

The arrests occurred Wednesday about 6 p.m. when about a half-dozen police officers from the department's new central narcotics unit executed a search warrant on a vehicle, said Gustavo Medina, police deputy director who oversees the gangs and narcotics bureau. The unit was created two months ago to pursue major drug cases.

During the search, the officers took one man into custody and found in a hidden compartment 6 kilograms of cocaine, 192 grams of loose cocaine and $9,895 in cash in addition to another $1,800 on the male suspect, said Detective Richard Weber, who took part in the investigation.

After the first arrest, they then executed a search warrant on a home where a portion of the drug operation took place, said Sgt. Michael Nunez, the lead investigator.

They arrested a woman at the home and confiscated an additional $37,000 in cash, a money-counting machine, an electronic scale and a small amount of cocaine.

The officers also seized more than $50,000 worth of jewelry including a diamond-encrusted necklace and a large watch encircled with jewels, said Nunez. Another vehicle was also seized.

Police displayed the confiscated goods at the department's communication center on Washington Street.

A table held six blocks of cocaine wrapped in plastic, smaller amounts of drugs in another bag, three large satchels of cash, a money counter and a sack containing an assortment of jewelry and watches.

Medina and Nunez would not give the two suspects' names nor say where the arrests happened because, they said, the case remains under investigation. Medina said the drugs came from outside the city and that the male suspect was a midlevel supplier and was not part of a gang.

"It's not an everyday job," he said, while nodding to the table covered with contraband.

Medina said he currently oversees five narcotics modules of officers including the new central unit that took down the accused cocaine supplier.

The new module was created to follow long-term, major cases without regard to precinct boundaries.

"I needed a module dedicated to wherever an investigation leads to," he said.

The unit had already made progress a few weeks ago, confiscating about 39 marijuana plants, Medina said.

Sharon Adarlo may be reached at sadarlo@starledger.com or (973) 392-4088.