5,000 Vaping Cartridges, THC Seized In Brick Apartment Raid: PD

BRICK, NJ — More than 5,000 vaping cartridges, along with THC wax and THC oil to fill them — items worth more than $45,000 — were seized from a Brick Township apartment earlier this month, Brick police said Tuesday.

Umberto DiLauro Jr., 22, was arrested May 9 following a two-month investigation by detectives from the Brick Township Police Drug Enforcement Unit, Brick Sgt. James Kelly said.

DiLauro was pulled over May 9 on an unrelated motor vehicle violation by Patrolman Jeffrey Person, and an investigation with the assistance of K9 Officer Keith Prendeville led to DiLauro being arrested after a pint-sized bottle of promethazine with codeine, popularly known as the drug "lean," or "syrup," was found in his possession, Kelly said.

That night the drug enforcement unit executed a search warrant at DiLauro's apartment in Kentwood Gardens and seized thousands of items, including 748 vaping cartridges full of THC oil, more than 4,000 unfilled vaping cartridges, several jars containing THC wax and THC oil, a money counter, and thousands of unassembled cartridge boxes and labels. The items had an street value exceeding $45,000, Kelly said.

DiLauro was charged with multiple drug offenses, including first-degree maintaining a drug manufacturing facility and second-degree distribution.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Asset Forfeiture Unit is assisting in the investigation of further charges of financial crimes against DiLauro, Kelly said.

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