PASSAIC COUNTY, N.J. — A multi-agency investigation into a large-scale drug network has resulted in 23 arrests and the seizure of more than four kilograms of narcotics, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $300,000 in cash, authorities announced.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, along with multiple local police chiefs, stated that the arrests followed a long-term investigation by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics, Gangs, and Violent Crimes Task Force. The operation involved law enforcement agencies from Wayne, Pompton Lakes, Haledon, Clifton, Passaic, and several federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The arrests included four women and 19 men, who were taken into custody at locations in Paterson, Wayne, Garfield, Wanaque, Pompton Lakes, Haledon, Totowa, Passaic, Harrison, and Lyndhurst. They face various charges related to the distribution and possession of controlled dangerous substances.
The investigation, which began in May 2024, was initiated by complaints about cocaine sales in Pompton Lakes and expanded to uncover a broader narcotics distribution network in Passaic County.