Two city men and a Passaic City man were apprehended Wednesday following a drug investigation near 4th Avenue, announced Richard Berdnik, Passaic County Sheriff.

Julio Vasquez, 21, and Jioni Rosado, 24, both city residents, and Pablo Lopez, 24, of Passaic City were arrested after a concerned citizen reported that they were engaging in illegal activity at the intersection of 4th Avenue and East 16th Street.

A concerned resident tipped off the sheriff’s office about a gold Lexus parked in the area with three men inside rolling marijuana cigarettes. “Detectives responded to the area and located the vehicle matching the description,” Berdnik said. “Once alongside the vehicle, detectives observed marijuana spread out amongst the occupants in the vehicle.”

Sheriff’s officer removed the three individuals, and began a search of the vehicle. Officers recovered a Glock 27 (.40cal) handgun loaded with nine hollow point bullets that was reported stolen in Charlotte North Carolina in 2013.

Officers also recovered 39 grams of marijuana from the vehicle. Detectives then continued the drug investigation with a raid on Vasquez’s residence, 130 East 26th Street, Berdnik said.

Detectives recovered 190 grams of marijuana (street value $5,000) and seized $2,675 in suspected drug money from the home, the sheriff said.

“I am pleased that the Sheriff’s Officers not only arrested three individuals, but recovered drugs, and a stolen loaded handgun,” said Berdnik.

Vasquez, Lopez, and Rosado have been charged with marijuana possession, intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of hollow point bullets, the sheriff said.

Berdnik credited the concerned citizen with the bust saying, “The information provided by an alert citizen helped police arrest three men on weapons and drug charges.”