New Jersey Heroin Bust: 31 Arrested In Statewide Operation

Thirty-one people were busted in a large-scale heroin and guns operation this week, according to authorities. Following an eight-month investigation, 150 law enforcement officers executed multiple search warrants and arrested 31 people from throughout the state and charged them with various narcotics and firearm offenses, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

Beginning at 6 a.m., authorities executed search warrants in mostly in the Jersey City and East Orange area, including seven residences, four vehicles and one business, according to the HCPO.

In addition to the arrests, officers seized two handguns, hollow point bullets, three vehicles and various amounts of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and illegal prescription drugs, according to the HCPO.

“This network was responsible for supplying a significant amount of heroin and other narcotics,” said Prosecutor Esther Suarez. “Considering the amount of drug use and the drug distribution trade, it’s reassuring that this collaborative effort will help to diminish the harm."

Suarez also credited the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service for assisting with the arrests and execution of the search warrants. She thanked Jersey City Medical Center Emergency Medical Services for their assistance during the operation.

The following individuals were arrested:

• Celina Colclough, age 48 of Willingboro, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs .
• Kyleamin Martin, age 38, of Jersey City, was charged with leader of a narcotics trafficking network; multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; distribution of cocaine; conspiracy to possess a firearm and conspiracy to commit official misconduct.
• Reginald Williams, age 27, of Jersey City, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to unlawfully possess a firearm; and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
• Javon Williams, age 21, of Jersey City, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs; distribution of heroin; conspiracy to possess a firearm in violation; two counts of possession of a firearm while committing a CDS offense; possession of a hi-capacity firearm; possession of a defaced firearm; possession of hollow point bullets; and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
• Tarvis Frye, age 24, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute pescription legend drugs in violation; conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to commit aggravated assault; and conspiracy to possess a firearm in violation.
• Jamilla Jones, age 32, of Jersey City, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to commit official misconduct; official misconduct; and pattern of official misconduct.
• Steven Kitchens, age 47, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin
• Darrell Stokes, age 61, of East Orange, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin
• Arvetta Stokes, age 56, of East Orange, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin
• Anneka Taylor, age 35, of East Orange, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin
• Gladyinet Ferrer, age 26, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine in violation; and possession of cocaine in violation
• Wilfredo Sanabria, age 23, of Jersey City, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin and conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to possess a firearm; and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
• Shamar Bey, age 25, of Elizabeth, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose; and certain persons not to possess a firearm.
• Adelso Ovalle-DelaCruz, age 20, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin
• Manuel Sanabria, age 19, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin; and conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs
• Tyrone Alexander, age 46, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
• Rashonda Harris, age 42, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs
• Nathan Miller, age 28, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin; and conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs
• Markise Johnson, age 25, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.
• Josephine Colclough, age 66, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs
• Jermaine Mitchell, age 35, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin
• Donte Badger, age 20, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin; and conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs
• Destiny Washington, age 26, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin
• Damon Smith, age 40, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs
• Caryl Gaston, age 38, of East Orange, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute marijuana
• Ashley Lipowski, age 25, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine in violation
• Damon Williams, age 22, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs
• Freddie Frye Jr., age 48, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin
• Elijah White, age 57, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin
• Tyrell Frye, age 27, of Jersey City, was charged with possession of marijuana; possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute; and possession of drug paraphernalia
• Austin Jeffrey, age 25, of Jersey City, was charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin; and conspiracy to distribute prescription legend drugs.

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected, police said.

Hudson County Prosecutor's Office photos: First photo: Adelso Oville-DelaCruz, Anneka Taylor, Arvetta Stokes, Ashley Lipowski, Austin Jeffrey, Cary Gaston, Celina Colcough, Damon Smith, Darrell Stokes, Destiny Washington, Donte Badger, Elizah White, Freddy Frye, Gladyinet Ferrer, Jamilla Jones. Second photo: Javon Williams, Jermaine Mitchell, Josephine Colclough, Kyleamin Martin, Manuel Sanabria, Markise Johnson, Nathan Miller, Rashonda Harris, Reginald Williams, Shamar Bey, Steven Kitchens, Tarvis Frye, Tyrell Frye, Tyrone Alexander and Wilfredo Sanabria