Paterson police seize 16,000 bags of heroin, $25,000 cash in East 18th Street raid
By Jonathan Greene
Published: February 21, 2019
The police conducted a massive drug bust at an East 18th Street distribution house on Wednesday night, seizing 15,902 glassine envelopes of heroin and $25,398 in cash from five alleged drug dealers, according to director Jerry Speziale.
Police arrested Alan Valdez, 23; Jonathan Guerrero, 21; Tyra Lopez, 20; Delores Diaz, 56; and Germon Cabrera, 32, during their raid at the second floor of 310 East 18th Street at around 8:30 p.m.
Each is charged with seven drug offenses, police said. All five are Paterson residents. Valdez lived on the first floor of 324 East 28th Street, police said, while the rest lived on the second floor of 310 East 18th Street.
Authorities received a confidential tip that led to the bust, police said. Information told police that the drugs were being distributed to dealers throughout the city using an older model silver Buick Lacrosse.
Police conducted a stop of the vehicle and subsequently raided the apartment. In addition to the heroin, police seized 4 bags of marijuana, 11 bags of crack cocaine, and narcotic paraphernalia.
Police confiscated $16,487 from Valdez, $3,756 from Guerrero, $4,757 from Diaz, and $398 from Cabrera.
“This is a major blow to the distribution cells operating within the City of Paterson and whose tentacles extend throughout all of Northern New Jersey,” Speziale said. “The cumulative effort of the men and women of the Paterson Police Department have put a significant dent on the illicit drug distribution trade operating in and around our area.”
Speziale praised police officers for conducting the raid and securing the suspects.
“We are working hard to rid our streets of the scourge of drugs,” mayor Andre Sayegh said. “I am proud of our Police Department’s persistence in this crusade.”