Commercial vehicle inspection leads to drug seizure, 2 arrests on I-78 in Warren County
GREENWICH TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – A commercial vehicle inspection led to the arrest of two men and the seizure of drugs, according to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.
On March 12, the New Jersey State Police Mobile Safe Freight Unit conducted a commercial vehicle inspection of a tractor-trailer, which was traveling from Dinuba, California to Long Island City, New York, at the Greenwich Township Weigh Station, authorities said.
The shipping manifest reflected a shipment of oranges and no other products. A visual inspection of the cargo revealed pallets of oranges and twelve additional pallets of cardboard boxes, officials said.
The boxes were not labeled and were inconsistent with the packaging used for the oranges. Per industry standards the cardboard boxes are considered dry goods not produce, authorities said.
Officers obtained a consent to search from the driver and co-driver, Ruben V. Rodriguez, 53, and Jose Santa Cruz Cheno, 59, both from Hermasillo, Mexico, officials said.
“Both men were properly documented and legally in the country,” the prosecutor’s office said.
As a result of the search, approximately 3.2 tons or 6,224 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, 40 pounds of Delta 9A powder, a cannabis concentrate, and 5,017 individual packages of cannabis products were discovered in the cargo hold, authorities said.
The total weight for all of the products is 3.4 tons or 6,485 pounds and the street value of the seized product is approximately $28,368,000, the prosecutor’s office said.
Both men was charged with first-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana, fourth-degree possession of marijuana, and second-degree conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
A detention hearing was held on March 21 before the Hon. Matthew Curry and both men have been detained in the Warren County Jail pending trial.
