35 Bags Of Heroin, Cocaine Found In Extended Stay Secaucus Motel: PD

SECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus Police say this trio was involved in a heroin sale this past weekend at the Extended Stay hotel on Meadowlands Parkway.

At 10:20 a.m. Sunday, July 16 the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit was patrolling the area near the Extended Stay, when they observed a suspected drug transaction take place.

To confirm their suspicions, the Anti-Crime Unit stopped the involved 2009 Infiniti G37. In plain view inside the car, detectives said they observed a digital scale that is commonly used to weigh narcotics for street sale. Additionally, the driver, identified as Ruben Rodriguez, 36, of Jersey City had more than $2,300 in his pants pocket.

The new Secaucus Police canine Brix was summoned to the scene to conduct an open-air sniff of the car and he positively indicated the presence of narcotics inside the car, said police.

The Infiniti was searched and a quantity of suspected heroin was recovered inside the car, along with two guns: A Taurus 9mm handgun and a Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380 caliber handgun, plus a handgun magazine loaded .380 caliber bullets and a 30-round high-capacity magazine loaded with eleven 9mm bullets.

Rodriguez was placed under arrest. The passenger in the vehicle, Diane Rodrigues, 31, of Elizabeth was also arrested and she was found in possession of cocaine and more than $400 in cash.

Next, police conducted a search of the Extended Stay motel room associated with the man and woman. In that search, more than 35 bags of suspected heroin, an ounce of suspected methamphetamine, suspected cocaine and other evidence of illegal drugs were found inside the motel room.

Within the room at the time of the search was Danny Rivera, 43, of Jersey City, who was also arrested.

Rodriguez and Rodrigues were with both charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute [2C:35-5b(3)], Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute [2C:35-5b(9)(a)], three counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance [2C:35-10a(1)], Possession of Drug Paraphernalia [2C:36-2], two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Handgun [2C:39-5b(1)], two counts of Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose [2C:39-4a(1)], two counts of Possession of a Firearm while Committing a CDS Offense [2C:39-4.1(a)], Possession of a High Capacity Magazine [2C:39-3j], Possession of Handgun Ammunition [2C:58-3.3(b)], Money Laundering [2C:21- 25(a)] and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with the Intent to Distribute [2C:36-3].

The man, Rodriguez, was additionally charged with Certain Persons Not to Possess a Firearm [2C:39-7(a)]. They were both lodged in the Hudson County Jail.

Rivera was charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute [2C:35-5b(3)], Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute [2C:35-5b(9)(a)], three counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance [2C:35-10a(1)] and Possession Drug Paraphernalia [2C:36-2].

He was lodged in the Hudson County Jail.

“I praise the continuous and tireless hard work of my Anti-Crime Unit,” said Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller. “This arrest is evidence that the Secaucus Police Department will continue to proactively police our local hotels to curtail nefarious activity. I am proud of the detectives and police officers assigned to the Anti-Crime Unit and I will continue to support them in their endeavors and their ongoing commitment to eradicate vice activity within Secaucus.”

Tips can be made by calling (201) 330-2049, emailed to spdtips@secaucus.net or submitted anonymously through the department’s website at www.secaucuspolice.org.