Five people were apprehended on drug charges and an assortment of narcotics was seized during a raid at a 20th Avenue basement, according to police director Jerry Speziale.
Police arrested Ralph Hernandez, 49, of Paterson; Leo Meeker, 39, of Pompton Lakes; Gregory Arevalo, 46, of Paterson; Luis Jimenez, age unknown, of Paterson; and Hector Fernandez, 68, of Paterson.
Hernandez, Fernandez, and Jimenez were each charged with 19 drug offenses, authorities said. Meeker and Arevalo were charged with cocaine possession.
Police raided the basement of 465 20th Avenue at around 6:50 p.m. on Wednesday.
Detectives seized 30 baggies or 24 grams of cocaine; 21 bags or 5.8 pounds of marijuana; 8 “moon rock tubes” of marijuana; 98 tubes of cannabis oil; 22 THC syrup tubes; 1 jar and 3 sheets of THC wax; 93 THC edibles; and 2 bags of Psilocybin mushrooms.
Police began investigating the basement in June after getting information drug activity was taking place at the location from residents fearful of retaliation.
“The information we received advised of illegal drug sales going on all hours of the day but busiest at night,” Speziale said.
Police confiscated $590 from Hernandez and $20 from Fernandez in suspected drug proceeds.
“This administration will not tolerate any residents living in fear and will continue to combat the scourge of illegal drugs,” the director said.