Detectives Arrest Man, Seize $20,000 in Drugs

An alleged drug distribution operation was nabbed Thursday morning with the arrest of a Newark man and recovery of $20,000 in narcotics, authorities said.

Officers from the Essex County Sheriff's Bureau of Narcotics executing a search warrant at 19 Unity Ave. found a black plastic bag in the basement of the residence containing 152 decks of heroin stamped "CASH MONEY" in green ink. The black bag also contained 175 unpacked grams of cocaine, a digital scale and numerous Zip-Lock bags.

Officers, who had to break down a metal ram in order to gain access to the residence, detained Dwight Vernon, 36, the target of their investigation, before searching the one-family home.

Also seized was $861 in small denomination bills from a bedroom dresser.

Vernon was placed under arrest and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), two counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Vernon is held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $300,000 cash bond, as per Judge Marilyn E. Williams. He will be arraigned later this week.

– Staff reports