Troopers Arrest Three Men for Heroin at Parkway Service Area In Middlesex County

The New Jersey State Police Troop D Tactical Patrol Unit and the Troop D Criminal Investigations Office arrested three people at the Colonia South Service Area on the Garden State Parkway for possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia.

On Wednesday, October 22, troopers conducted a quality of life detail at the service area. At approximately3:00 p.m., they noticed three men seated in a parked Cadillac DTS. Two of the three men were observed snorting a white powder.

Troopers approached the vehicle and immediately noticed additional drugs and paraphernalia in the car. Ralph Pio, 46, Joseph Pio, 40, and Vincent Coppola, 37, all of Lyndhurst were removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest. Troopers confiscated 27 wax folds of suspected heroin and drug paraphernalia from the vehicle.

All three men were charged with Possession of Heroin and Drug Paraphernalia. During the investigation it was learned that Cappola was wanted by the Division of Criminal Justice for 1st degree racketeering. Coppola was turned over to Detectives from the Division of Criminal Justice. Joseph Pio was turned over to Bloomfield Police Department for an active warrant and Ralph Pio was released pending a mandatory court appearance.