NJSP and NY DEA Task Force Search of Quiet Neighborhood Home
Uncovers Heroin Mill and Millions in Drugs
Cliffside Park, NJ - New Jersey State Police Detectives assigned to the Drug Trafficking North Unit, in
conjunction with the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF), on December 20th executed a search warrant at
423 Nelson Avenue, an upscale, residential neighborhood. As they were about to approach the home, Julio Cesar
Mendoza, 34, of 574 161st Street, New York N.Y. walked outside and was arrested with two kilos of heroin secured
around his waist. The kilos were shaped like thick insoles of shoes, possibly indicating a way they may have been
smuggled into the country. A photo of similar drug packaging is provided by the US DEA and is attached below.
Inside, investigators found a fully operational Heroin production facility from which they seized approximately
16 more pounds of Heroin, some in the insole-type packaging. They also found distribution quantities of Crystal
Methamphetamine and numerous items related to the processing and packaging of drugs. If broken down to individual
packages, the street value of the narcotics seized is estimated to be $6,000,000. That much heroin could have
generated up to 600,000 decks, or individual doses of the highly addictive drug to be sold on the streets of New
Jersey and New York.
Mendoza is believed to be the primary operator of that drug operation. There were no other persons in the
home at the time of the arrest and search. The facility in the home could have been operated with the help of other people.
"Every detective, agent and officer involved in this operation can be proud of the gift they have given to our
region this holiday season. That is a lot of drugs that will never poison our residents, and the intelligence
gathered will hopefully lead to further disruption of the drug trade," said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent
of the New Jersey State Police.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell stated, "The DEA Task Force and the New Jersey State Police found
and dismantled a heroin mill containing enough heroin to produce hundreds of thousands of bags of heroin destined
for the Tri-State area. Due to law enforcement’s efforts, nearly $6 million worth of heroin was found hidden in a
house located in a quiet suburban community." SAC Crowell applauds the diligent work of the NJSP and the DEA’s
NYDETF comprised of agents and detectives of the DEA, NYPD and NYSP
The cooperative investigation will continue to learn more about the source and destination of the drugs.
Evidence seized during the search was taken to Totowa State Police Station to be processed, and then the State Police
North Lab to be analyzed and eventually destroyed.
Mendoza was charged with Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute, Possession of CDS, Possession of CDS
within 1000 feet of a Public School, Maintaining a Heroin Production Facility and Possession of CDS Paraphernalia.
He was later lodged at the Bergen County Jail on $500,000 full cash bail.
The investigation is being prosecuted by the NJ Division of Criminal Justice.
Charges are mere accusations and all accused subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Photos below of Mendoza and drug packaging in the shape of shoe insoles. |
|
|
Click images for larger view |
# # # |