$1 Million Marijuana Growing Center Busted In Morris County

RANDOLPH, NJ — The raid of a Morris County marijuana production facility led to the arrests of eight people and the seizure of more than $1 million worth of drugs, Morris County prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announced Thursday.

During a Nov. 22 raid, investigators seized 266 marijuana plants worth more than $1 million from a Route 10 office complex building in Randolph, Knapp said. Several cars and $4,000 in cash were also seized.

Eight people were arrested:

• Juan T. Addison, age 46 of Hillside, NJ
• Mario E. Ramos, age 51 of Glendale, CA
• Lila V. Wroblewski, age 20 of Jersey City, NJ
• Niazja E. Rios, age 28 of Bronx, NY
• Cecilia A. Payne, age 28 of Bronx, NY
• Makeda A. Price, age 26 of Bronx, NY
• Karolina Gajdek, age 23 of Bronx, NY
• Rafaelito A. Ortiz, age 37 of Brooklyn, NY

All eight were charged with operating an indoor marijuana grow facility with more than 50 plants, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of marijuana.

The raid was a result of a month-long investigation by the Randolph Township Police Department’s Detective Bureau and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit/Narcotics Task Force.

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