16 Arrested In Large N.J., FBI Heroin And Fentanyl Bust

Sixteen people were arrested, and 21 guns and more than 10,000 bags of heroin and fentanyl were seized this week in a large-scale New Jersey gun and drug-trafficking bust, authorities said.

A 2-month joint investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI and various police departments led to the bust of an organization that trafficked illegal drugs and firearms in the Pleasantville and Egg Harbor City areas, as well as the disrupting of a gun trafficking supply chain.

The bust began at 4 a.m. on Thursday when authorities executed search warrants and seized 21 firearms, including handguns, rifles, shotguns, and automatic weapons, according to an Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office release.

Also recovered were firearm ammunition, high capacity automatic weapon magazines, approximately 10 ounces of cocaine and more than 10,000 bags of heroin and fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a drug that is 40 to 50 times more powerful than heroin and claiming the lives of thousands across the country.

Arrested in Atlantic County and in Georgia last week were:

• Kenneth J. Burrell 39 Buffalo Avenue, Egg Harbor City
• Tyson Nieves 25 Cincinnati Avenue, Egg Harbor City
• Scott Dorn 18 Cincinnati Avenue, Egg Harbor City
• Leonard Allen 26 Cincinnati Avenue, Egg Harbor City
• Timothy Davis 19 S. White Horse Pike, Mullica
• Samuel Davis Jr. 22 S. White Horse Pike, Mullica
• Sarah A. Davis 24 S. White Horse Pike, Mullica
• Brian Foster 19 Baltimore Avenue, Egg Harbor City
• Hiram Matos-Aviles 20 Philadelphia Avenue, Egg Harbor City
• Rodney Cline Jr. 34 Philadelphia Avenue, Egg Harbor City
• Tariek L. Mack 27 Federal Court, Galloway Twp.
• Joshua Sims 18 Cooney Circle, Augusta, Ga.
• Umar Salahuddin 25 Spruce Avenue, Egg Harbor City
• Catoby Collier 40 Philadelphia Avenue, Egg Harbor City
• Dawayne Fleming 40 Philadelphia Avenue, Egg Harbor City
• Isaiah Cooper 27 South Chester Avenue, Pleasantville

All of the arrests were made without incident.

Kenneth J. Burrell, Tyson Nieves, Scott Dorn, Leonard Allen, Brian Foster, Umar Salahuddin, Catoby Collier, Dawayne Fleming and Isaiah Cooper were arrested in Atlantic County, transported to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office upon arrest, processed for the arrest, and lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on arrest warrants.

Timothy Davis, Samuel Davis Jr., Sarah A. Davis, Hiram Matos-Aviles, Rodney Cline Jr. and Tariek L. Mack were arrested in Atlantic County, transported to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, processed for the arrest, and released on summonses.

Sims was taken into custody in Georgia by Federal authorities, and remains in custody in Georgia, pending extradition proceedings.

Patch file photo