$45K In Heroin, Guns Seized In Drug Bust: MCPO

A total of $45,600 in heroin, four guns and cash were seized following a six-week investigation, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced. Two vehicles were also seized as drug proceeds.

Santeeno Grant, 29, of Trenton, was arrested as part of the investigation. He stands accused of running a heroin distribution network in the county.

During the undercover investigation, detectives said they bought a total of 1,650 decks of heroin. The investigation culminated with the execution of a search warrant at Grant’s home and on two of his vehicles on May 31.

Before the search, detectives said they saw Grant driving a black 2006 Chevrolet Impala back and forth from his home. While in the area of Home Avenue, Grant retrieved a black plastic bag from a 2006 silver Volkswagen Beetle and returned to his Impala, detectives said.

He drove the Impala to the area of Broad and Stanton streets, where he parked it being detained. Detectives said they searched him and $3,597 in cash.

Detectives then searched the Impala and said they found the same black plastic bag Grant had retrieved from the Volkswagen. The bag contained 19 bricks of heroin, authorities said.

They also found another small amount of heroin, a California driver’s license for Grant, a defaced Taurus 9 mm handgun and a .380 Bersa handgun in the vehicle, authorities said. Both handguns were loaded.

Detectives also searched the Volkswagen, where they said they found 73 bricks of heroin in a shoe box on the passenger seat.

The raid of his home turned up 10 bundles of heroin, 21 clonazepam pills, .9mm rounds, .380 rounds, a shotgun, a M1 assault rifle, two plastic bags containing marijuana, a scale and $2,297 in cash, according to authorities.

Grant is charged with numerous second-degree drug and weapons offenses. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain him. When Grant was detained, there were two other people with him, according to authorities.

Markese Phillips, 40, of Trenton, was arrested and charged with numerous second- and third-degree drug offenses. A search of Phillips’ Mercury Cougar revealed approximately 130 bricks of heroin, 15 grams of cocaine and $638 in cash, authorities said. Phillips was released pending future court proceedings.

The third person, who was not identified, wasn’t charged.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives — Trenton Field Office, the New Jersey State Police, Crime Suppression Central, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, and the Hamilton, Princeton and Trenton police, under the command of the prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit.

The attached images of Santeeno Grant and Markese Phillips were provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office