Over 50 Pounds Of Crystal Meth Seized In Mercer County Drug Bust

Two men from California have been arrested for possession of over 50 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and nine kilograms of heroin while in Mercer County, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced Monday evening.

Gabriel Acosta Villa, 29, of Lake Forest, California, and Oscar Perez Jr., 23, of Santa Ana, California, are both charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin.

They made their first appearance in Trenton federal court on Monday, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Lois H. Goodman ordered them to be held until trial.

They were arrested near the parking lot of a restaurant in Robbinsville after law enforcement officers were told that a commercial truck driver and an accomplice planned to sell about 50 pounds of crystal methamphetamine to a buyer in the Trenton area on June 17, authorities said.

During a surveillance, law enforcement officers said they saw Acosta walk through the parking lot with two large bags. Acosta got into a nearby car, which was subsequently stopped by law enforcement, according to the complaint. During the traffic stop, they said they seized 51.31 pounds of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Acosta was detained.

Officers then found Perez walking alone near the loading docks of a nearby hardware store, according to authorities. A large white tractor trailer was parked nearby with the engine still running. Law enforcement searched the tractor trailer, and said they found 9.5 kilograms of a substance that tested positive for heroin.

Acosta and Perez both face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine.

Patch file photo