Javier M. Vega and Francisco Perez will face the indictment on First Degree Charges.
After the arrest at a Linden NJ Truck stop, NJ Attorney General Porino announced “Out-of-state drug traffickers who think they can roll into New Jersey to conduct their illegal transactions are in for a rude awaking.” “As this indictment shows, New Jersey State Police are on the lookout for criminals attempting to treat our state like an open-air drug market.”
The arrest came as a result of an investigation by the New Jersey State Police. “By seizing 45 kilograms of cocaine, we dealt a devastating blow to the trafficking network that was destined to receive it for distribution,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “This was a textbook narcotics investigation that was the result of exceptional attention to detail by members of the New Jersey State Police Gangs and Organized Crime Unit.”
Members of the New Jersey State Police Gangs and Organized Crime Central Unit on routine patrol spotted Vega sitting behind the wheel of his tractor-trailer in a hotel parking lot in Carteret. Based on information obtained from law enforcement database checks, State Police surveillance units followed the tractor-trailer to the truck stop where it parked. Troopers then observed a BMW driven by Perez enter the truck stop, turn off its headlights and slowly approach the tractor-trailer. Perez exited the car and Vega allegedly retrieved several packages from his truck and handed them to Perez. Perez then allegedly placed the packages into the trunk of his BMW and drove away.
Based on the circumstances, an investigative car stop was conducted on the BMW on East Edger Road in Linden. As Perez stepped out of the vehicle, a large stack of money was observed protruding from his pants pocket. Sgt. Glenn Robertson of the New Jersey State Police Canine Unit and his dog Katie conducted a canine search of the BMW and Perez was arrested after Katie provided a positive alert for narcotics. Perez then allegedly stated he had 45 kilos of cocaine in the trunk.
The State Police brought out a drug sniffing dog that immediately indicated the presence of drugs in the tractor trailer.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
