2 Major Fentanyl Rings Operated Within Miles Of Secaucus

SECAUCUS, NJ — According to State Police and the New Jersey Attorney General, two of the largest fentanyl manufacturing facilities in the state were operating within just a few miles of Secaucus.

$1.2 million worth of raw fentanyl was produced out of an apartment on Passaic Avenue in Passaic and from an apartment on 46th Street in North Bergen, said Attorney General Matthew Platkin and State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan.

The drug mills were run by Edwin Mercedes, 39, his twin brother Edwal Mercedes, 39, and Carlos Pena Peralta, 22, all of North Bergen, say police.

State Police, through their Drug Trafficking North Unit, say they have been investigating the Mercedes brothers for the past three months.

On April 11, State Police conducted simultaneous raids on the North Bergen and Passaic apartments.

At the Passaic address, detectives seized 12 kilos of raw fentanyl with a street value of more than $1.2 million.

At the North Bergen address, detectives seized more than 10 pounds of marijuana with a street value of approximately $20,000. They also found hydraulic equipment for pressing kilos of fentanyl, imprint face plates for stamping CDS, cutting agents and evidence of fentanyl packaging.

Prior to the raid, Edwal Mercedes was arrested during a traffic stop by State Police and found to be in possession of more than $10,000, believed to be derived from illegal means.

Pena Peralta was arrested at the North Bergen address. The two men are being held in the Bergen County jail pending a detention hearing.

Edwin Mercedes is currently being sought as a fugitive.

State Police called their three-month investigation into the fentanyl ring “Operation Table for Two."

The men were charged with a slew of serious drug charges, including first-degree maintaining a fentanyl production facility. Edwal Mercedes was additionally charged with money laundering and possession of a fictitious NJ driver’s license.