Cocaine, $40,000 Found In Secaucus Minivan Stop, Police Say

SECAUCUS, NJ — A minivan pulled over on County Avenue in Secaucus last Tuesday was found to have six ounces of cocaine and over $40,000 in suspected drug proceeds, police said. The two men driving, both Secaucus residents, also had a 9-year-old boy with them, as well.

Secaucus police officers Joseph Fuardo and Kiril Petrov pulled over the Honda Odyssey last Tuesday, November 20 at approximately 1:08 p.m. on County Avenue after they said it had several unspecified motor vehicle violations.

During the stop, the officers had reason to believe that the vehicle contained illegal contraband, police said.

The Honda Odyssey was searched and the officers seized approximately six ounces of suspected cocaine and over $40,500 in suspected drug proceeds, they said. Additionally, the officers discovered a hidden compartment (trap) within the dashboard of the minivan.

The occupants, Randhis Vasquez, 44 and Omar Cabrera, 37, both of Secaucus were arrested. Police said they each had $1,000 on their person at the time of their arrest. Additionally, a nine-year-old boy was in the car when it was stopped, and he was taken into protective custody and later released to his parent. The relation of the men to the boy is not known.

Vasquez and Cabrera were each charged with possession of cocaine, possession of over five ounces of cocaine with the intent to distribute, money laundering and endangering the welfare of a child. Both were taken to the Hudson County Jail.

A view down County Avenue via Google Earth.