1,500 Heroin Doses Seized, Lakewood Pair Charged: Prosecutor

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Authorities seized 1,500 doses of heroin and weapons and arrested two Lakewood men following a three-month investigation into heroin distribution in Ocean County, authorities said.

Tony Olden, 33, and Shawn Craighead, 32, both of Lakewood, were arrested Tuesday as authorities raided three locations in Lakewood and one in Barnegat, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Lakewood Township Police Chief Gregory Meyer said in a joint news release.

The sites were being used to store, package and dispense heroin as part of an extensive drug trafficking scheme, the release said.

Authorities seized "evidence associated with operating and maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility," the news release said, along with 1,500 doses of heroin, marijuana, $1,200 in cash, and three handguns.

Olden was charged with one count of maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production/manufacturing facility; one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute; one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public park; possession of heroin; two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; two counts of possession of a handgun while committing a controlled dangerous substance offense; two counts of being a certain person not to possess a weapon; two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon; one count of possession of a defaced firearm; and possession of prohibited ammunition, authorities said.

Craighead was charged with one count of being a certain person not to possess a weapon; one count of unlawful possession of a weapon; and one count of possession of marijuana.

Both were being held at the Ocean County Jail pending detention hearings.

The investigation and the raids included members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Asset Forfeiture Unit, and Regional SWAT Team; the Lakewood Township Detective Bureau, Patrol Division and Special Response Team; the Toms River Police Department Emergency Services Unit and K-9 Unit; the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit; the Barnegat Township Police Crime Reduction Unit; the Stafford Township Police Drug Enforcement Unit; and the Monmouth/Ocean County DEA HIDTA Group.

"I can’t say enough about the collaborative efforts of all of the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation," Billhimer said. "We will continue to work together to root out these drug dealers and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."

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