3 Arrested, 5 Kilos Of Suspected Ecstasy And Ketamine Seized In Hudson County

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Three Hudson County residents were arrested last week and 5 kilograms of suspected MDMA/ketamine seized in a drug investigation, prosecutors said Monday.

Mauricio Hurtado, 42, of Secaucus, Jose Restrepo, 57, of North Bergen, and Carlos Florez, 49, of Bloomingdale, were arrested Thursday and charged with possession with the intent to distribute (MDMA) and possession with the intent to distribute (ketamine), said the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

"The recovered narcotics are described as a pink and bright yellow substances most commonly used for recreational purposes and known for its hallucinogenic effects," said the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

In capsule or pill form, MDMA is often referred to as ecstasy.

They three were arrested in the area of 91st Street and Bergenwood Avenue in North Bergen, in Hudson County, following an investigation.

Following the arrests, a court-authorized search warrant was conducted of Hurtado’s Secaucus apartment on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said that investigators then found a handgun and over $100,000 in cash, suspected proceeds from narcotics transactions.

Hurtado was additionally charged with weapons offenses, money laundering, and possession of drug paraphernalia, prosecutors said.

They were arrested after an investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations Newark, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, prosecutors said.