Morris County Narcotics Task Force seize guns and drugs, 4 arrested
MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit and Narcotics Task Force and the Morristown Bureau of Police arrest four Passaic County men and seize guns and drugs which stemmed from an investigation into cocaine, fentanyl, and firearm distribution in the Morristown area, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll announced Thursday.
On April 6, members of the Narcotics Task Force, Morristown Bureau of Police, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Response Team, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team (SERT), and the New Jersey State Police T.E.A.M.S. Unit, conducted an operation in culmination of an investigation, that resulted in the seizure of:
- Five handguns.
- One assault rifle.
- Numerous high-capacity magazines.
- Various ammunition, including hollow point ammunition.
- Two bullet proof vests.
- Over 200 grams of cocaine.
- Over a kilogram (more than 1100 grams) of fentanyl.
- Six pounds of marijuana.
- Multiple bricks of heroin.
- Drug distribution packaging and paraphernalia.
- Over $7,000 US Currency.
- Four motor vehicles.
The following individuals were arrested as part of the investigation:
Lexine Zuzunaga, 29, of Haledon was charged with first-degree distribution of cocaine, second-degree distribution of fentanyl, second-degree possession of a weapon during the commission of a CDS crime, multiple second- and fourth-degree firearms offenses, involving the unlawful possession and sale of handguns and an assault rifle, fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine, and conspiracy to commit those offenses.
Jordan Saravia, 32, of Paterson was charged with first-degree distribution of cocaine, second-degree distribution of fentanyl, second-degree possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana, third-degree possession with intent to distribute heroin, as well as conspiracy to commit these offenses.
Alberto Herrera, 34, of Paterson was charged with numerous second- and fourth-degree firearms related offenses involving the unlawful possession and sale of handguns and an assault rifle, as well as possession of hollow point ammunition, a large capacity magazine, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.
Jamel McNeal, 34, of Paterson was charged with second-degree possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, multiple counts of second-degree certain persons not to possess weapons, second-degree possession of a weapon during the commission of a CDS offense, as well as multiple second and fourth degree offenses related to the unlawful possession and sale of handguns and an assault rifle, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.
All four were lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility.
This investigation was conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit under the command of Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brad Seabury and Captain Steven Brylinski, the Morristown Bureau of Police Criminal Investigations Division, DEA NJ Division, US Postal Inspector Service, and ATF NJ Division.
Morris County Prosecutor Carroll commended the municipal, county, state and federal inter-agency cooperation and tactical coordination that safely and effectively executed the successful arrest of multiple subjects, and the safe search and seizure of dangerous weapons and illegal drugs at multiple locations. The Prosecutor indicated that this investigation demonstrates that law enforcement’s cooperation and intelligence-sharing will lead to more successful investigations to remove dangerous weapons and drugs from our communities.