NJ State Police seize more than $850K worth of marijuana, THC products during a commercial vehicle inspection in Warren County
GREENWICH TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – The New Jersey State Police arrested a California man after troopers seized more than $850,000 worth of marijuana and THC products during a commercial vehicle inspection in Warren County.
On June 14, Trooper Joseph Seidler, of the Mobile Safe Freight Training Unit, stopped a tractor-trailer, driven by Storm Zhu, 37, of Hacienda Heights, CA, eastbound on Interstate 78 at the truck weigh station in Greenwich Township to conduct a safety inspection, state police said.
During the inspection, Trooper Seidler detected evidence of criminal activity and located several boxes throughout the load that were not consistent with the legitimate cargo. As a result, Trooper Seidler searched the boxes and discovered 121 pounds of marijuana and THC products.
Zhu was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with intent to distribute. He was lodged at the Warren County Correctional Center pending a detention hearing, state police said.
“This seizure was a result of the diligent work of the New Jersey State Police Mobile Safe Freight Training Unit, which is comprised of highly-trained troopers who are not just committed to commercial vehicle safety inspections; they are conducting interdiction operations to identify traffickers using commercial vehicles to transport illegal goods,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “These inspections are not only important in ensuring the safety of the commercial vehicles on our roadways, but they also serve to preserve the integrity of businesses operating legitimately to transport goods across our state.”
“I want to commend and thank Trp. Seidler for his excellent police work leading to this arrest. Warren County is unique as it is crossed bisected by two major Interstate highways Rt. 78 and Rt. 80 which provide direct access to New York City and the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area. These Interstate highways provide a direct distribution route for legitimate goods as well as for illegal drugs and other criminal activity. Clearly criminal distribution activities are taking place on these highways and the Warren County Prosecutor’s office looks forward to partnering with the New Jersey State Police to strengthen enforcement and in developing new strategies and programs to secure our Interstate highways to eradicate criminal distribution activity,” Warren County Prosecutor Jim Pfeiffer said.
