NJ Police Seize 1163 Marijuana Plants At Newark Warehouse

NEWARK, NJ — Authorities say four people, including two Essex County residents, are responsible for operating a large, illegal marijuana grow facility in Newark.

After a five-month investigation, New Jersey State Police detectives carried out a raid at a warehouse on Mount Pleasant Avenue in Newark and a home in Clifton on Jan. 16.

While searching both locations, police found 1,163 potted marijuana plants, 28 pounds of packaged marijuana, marijuana cultivation equipment and a .22 caliber handgun, state police said.

Police arrested four suspects: Edward Qarabashi, 29, of Newark, Michael Emma, 38, of Fairfield, Juan Trinidad, 33, of Paterson, and Paul Savegh, 37, of Clifton.

Police charged Qarabashi, Emma, Trinidad and Savegh with the following offenses:

• Operating a CDS production facility
• Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
• Possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Conspiracy to grow, cultivate, and harvest marijuana
• Possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 ft. of a public housing complex
• Possession of CDS
• Possession of drug paraphernalia

Qarabashi was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm while committing a CDS offense, state police said.

All four suspects were lodged at the Essex County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.

The New Jersey division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) assisted with the investigation. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is prosecuting the case.

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