$50K In Cocaine Seized, 2 Arrested After Suspicious Mail Found

SOMERSET, NJ — Two Somerset residents were charged and $50,000 worth of cocaine was found following a drug investigation into suspicious packages being sent through the mail.

On Sept. 11, authorities launched a drug investigation into suspicious parcels being sent through the United States mail to a Hillcrest Avenue home in Somerset, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

A Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K-9 "Basilone" sniffed the outside of one of the packages, giving the signal for the presence of suspected drugs, Robertson said.

On Sept. 14, after Jorge Diaz, 32, got the package authorities searched the Somerset home and found about half-a-kilogram (507 grams) of cocaine and various drug paraphernalia. The estimated street value of the seized cocaine is about $50,000, Robertson said.

Grethel Guevara, 29, was also inside the home at the time of the search.

Diaz and Guevara were each charged with first-degree possession of a CDS (cocaine over 5 ounces) with the intent to distribute, second-degree possession of CDS (cocaine over 5 ounces) with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public park, and disorderly persons possession of drug paraphernalia.

Diaz and Guevara were taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin
Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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