Crime & Safety

Police Raid Accused Drug Dealer’s Stash Spots In Nutley, Belleville

Police carried out raids at an accused drug dealer's North Jersey home and his "stash locations" in Nutley and Belleville, prosecutors said.

BELLEVILLE-NUTLEY, NJ — Police recently carried out raids at an accused drug dealer’s North Jersey home and his “stash locations” in Nutley and Belleville, authorities announced Sunday.

Officers with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office arrested Omar Rios, 44, of Nutley, at his apartment on the 500-block of Franklin Avenue conducting a series of search warrants on Nov. 9. Police seized more than 800 grams of cocaine, $58,070 in suspected drug sale proceeds, cutting agents, packaging material and a hydraulic press used to compress cocaine for packaging at Rios’ home, prosecutors said.

Bergen County police also carried out search warrants at a residence on the 90-block of Bloomfield Avenue in Nutley and a detached garage on the 40-block of Watchung Avenue in Belleville, which Rios was allegedly using as stash locations, prosecutors said.

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Detectives found $273,920 in suspected drug sale proceeds at the Nutley location. Police found 10 vintage exotic cars in the Belleville garage, which Rios may have purchased with proceeds from drug sales, prosecutors said.

Rios was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, and money laundering. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending an initial court appearance.

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Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella thanked the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office for assisting with the investigation.

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