Michele Finizio

NJ Criminal Defense Attorney

Heroin Drug Ring Shut Down in Northern New Jersey

Heroin Drug Ring Shut Down in Northern New Jersey

An enormous heroin drug ring that was operating in northern New Jersey has recently been exposed.  Police made 325 drug arrests in Paterson, N.J. Of the 325 people that were arrested, 40 dealers were detained in addition to more than 280 alleged drug users.   Moreover, among those arrested for possession of heroin was a dental hygienist and a prospective player for the Philadelphia Phillies major league baseball team.

NJ Heroin Drug Ring Exposed

According to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Paterson, New Jersey provides more pure heroin than anywhere else in the United States.   The drug problem is Paterson is wide-reaching and affects all walks of life, regardless of gender, education or socio-economic class.

For eight weeks, law enforcement officials from 12 different municipalities and four counties worked together.  Undercover officers and surveillance equipment were used to apprehend the drug perpetrators.   The following was seized during the New Jersey drug bust:

  • 1,200 grams of raw heroin, which is the equivalent of 60,000 bags of heroin if sold “on the street.”
  • 12,000 bags of heroin from drug users.
  • Thirty guns.
  • $25,000 in cash.

The total value of the heroin seized in Paterson is estimated at $350,000.  Buying drugs in the New Jersey suburb carries another risk besides being charged with possession of heroin.  According to police, people often get robbed at gunpoint while attempting to buy drugs in Paterson.

Heroin is an extremely dangerous drug and very addictive.  For this reason, officials are interested in more than simply arresting those guilty of heroin possession, possession with intent to distribute and drug trafficking.  Officials and law enforcement want to help rehabilitate those addicted to drugs in Paterson.   There has been suggestions to offer those arrested with drug charges the opportunity to attend drug dependency rehabilitation programs and then monitoring the follow-up of the perpetrators.  This would be an important step in preventing future arrests and potential deadly heroin drug overdoses.

Camden County, NJ Criminal Attorney Michele Finizio Defends the Rights of Those Charged with Heroin Possession in South Jersey

If you have been arrested for distributing or possessing heroin, contact Cherry Hill criminal defense attorney Michele Finizio today at 856-888-9059 or contact us online