1K Grams Of Cocaine Seized In Manchester, Brick: Prosecutor

MANCHESTER, NJ — More than 1,000 grams of cocaine, $30,000 in cash and multiple loaded firearms were seized Wednesday and two men arrested following a three-month investigation into drug distribution in Ocean County, the prosecutor's office said.

Victor Mendoza-Gutierrez, 24, of Manchester, and Jose Quintero, 36, of Brick Township, were arrested in connection with the investigation, which led to no-knock search warrants were executed at a home in Manchester and a home in Brick about 3:30 p.m., Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.

Quintero was pulled over by Brick Township police in his 2019 Ford F150 just before the execution of the search warrants, Billhimer said. Mendoza-Gutierrez was arrested at the Manchester home, he said.

The investigation was conducted by the prosecutor's Narcotics Strike Force; the Northern Ocean County/Monmouth Drug Enforcement Administration High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force (HIDTA); the Manchester Township Narcotics Enforcement Team; the Brick Township Street Crimes Unit, and the Lakewood Street Crimes Unit, Billhimer said. It found the two homes were being used by Mendoza-Gutierrez and Quintero to store and distribute cocaine.

The warrants were executed by detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, along with members of the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, Northern Ocean County/Monmouth Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force (HIDTA), Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, Brick Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, and Brick Township Police Department Special Emergency Response Team.

Detectives located and seized multiple loaded firearms, about 1,050 grams of cocaine, 20 grams of methamphetamine, a quantity of marijuana, drug paraphernalia indicative of distribution purposes, a high-end security system, and about $30,000 in cash.

Both Mendoza-Gutierrez and Quintero were charged with:

• Possession of cocaine in an amount greater than 5 ounces with intent to distribute;
• Maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility;
• Possession of cocaine, greater than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces with intent to distribute;
• Possession of a firearm while committing a controlled dangerous substance offense;
• Two counts of possession of cocaine;
• Two counts of maintaining a fortified manufacturing facility;
• Two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia;
• Possession of marijuana.

Additional charges may be forthcoming, Billhimer said.

Quintero is being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing. Mendoza-Gutierrez was processed at Manchester Township Police Headquarters and released pending a future court appearance, he said.

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