Fentanyl Pills Sold All Summer Long At Secaucus Motels, Police Say

SECAUCUS, NJ — On Thursday morning, Secaucus Police announced the results of an investigation they started in June into drug-dealing at the town's motels/hotels.

During the investigation, undercover detectives with the SPD Anti-Crime Unit made numerous drug purchases, resulting in the seizure of more than five ounces of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills and cocaine.

Fentanyl, the lab-made drug that is similar to heroin — except much stronger and more deadly — is the same drug that was being stored at a Bronx home daycare this week, which resulted in four toddlers being exposed to the drug, and a 1-year-old boy dying. NBC is now reporting the white fentanyl powder was being stored on top of children's playmats inside the daycare.

Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl, equal to 10 to 15 grains of table salt, is enough to cause a fatal overdose, as the drug slows your heart rate and breathing. Fentanyl was deliberately made by scientists to be 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the CDC. More than 150 Americans die every day from fentanyl overdoses or similar drugs, says the CDC.

Secaucus Police said they launched this undercover operating "due to the lethality of fentanyl affecting the nation."

Secaucus Police partnered with Homeland Security officers for the investigation. Since June, undercover officers purchased more than 430 pills containing fentanyl and cocaine at Secaucus motels/hotels.

Secaucus Police did not name which motels in town.

Then on Wednesday of this week, Secaucus Police did a raid of an apartment in North Bergen that led the arrest of three men: Nilo Ibarra, 38, of Jersey City, Ramon Lopez Arias, 32, of West New York and Alexander Sanchez-Castillo, 37, of North Bergen.

After his arrest Wednesday, police then searched Ibarra’s residence, located on Van Wagenen Avenue in Jersey City. Methamphetamine, morphine and two .22 caliber rifles were seized.

Also Wednesday, Lopez Arias was located in a relative’s residence on the 8100 block of 4th Avenue in North Bergen, which was searched. Upon entering the residence, officers observed evidence that Lopez Arias and Castillo were manufacturing crack cocaine.

During a court-authorized search of the residence, over 480 grams of suspected fentanyl, with a street value of almost $25,000, was seized along with over six ounces of suspected cocaine, 25 fentanyl pills and evidence that the residence was being used to manufacture drugs for street sale.

“The Secaucus Police Department will stop at no territorial boundary to bring those to justice,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “I am extremely proud of the work of my Anti-Crime Unit."

Homeland Security also praised Secaucus Police for shutting down a Hudson County fentanyl and crack cocaine operation.

“As a result of this investigation, Homeland Security Newark special agents and Secaucus Police Detectives, have unquestionably made the Hudson County and surrounding areas safer by preventing these drugs, specifically fentanyl, from poisoning our communities”, said HSI Newark acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kurtz. “Homeland Security Investigations will continue to support our New Jersey law enforcement partners in dismantling narcotics trafficking organizations like this."

• Ramon Lopez Arias was charged with Maintaining a CDS Production Facility [2C:35-4], Distribution of Cocaine [2C:35-5b(1)], [2C:35-5b(2)] and [2C:35-5b(3)], two counts of Distribution of Fentanyl [2C:35-5b(4)], two counts of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance [2C:5-2], four counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance [2C:35-10(a)(1)], two counts of Money Laundering [2C:21-25(a)] and Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia [2C:36-3]. He was lodged in the Hudson County Jail.
• Alexander Sanchez-Castillo was charged with Maintaining a CDS Production Facility [2C:35-4], Distribution of Cocaine [2C:35-5b(1)], two counts of Distribution of Fentanyl [2C:35-5b(4)], two counts of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance [2C:5-2], three counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance [2C:35-10(a)(1)], and Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia [2C:36-3]. He was lodged in the Hudson County Jail.
• Nilo Ibarra was charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance [2C:35-10(a)(1)], Distribution of Cocaine [2C:35-5b(2)] and [2C:35-5b(3)], Distribution of Methamphetamine [2C:35-5b(8)], Distribution of Methamphetamine [2C:35-5b(9)(a)] and [2C:35-5b(9)(b)], three counts Distribution of Fentanyl [2C:35-5b(5)], Distribution of Fentanyl [2C:35-5b(4)], two counts of Unlawful Possession of Rifles [2C:39-5c(1)], two counts of Possession of Firearm while Committing CDS Offense [2C:39-4.1a], Unlawful Possession of Handgun Ammunition [2C:58-3.3(b)], two counts of Money Laundering [2C:21-25(a)], five counts of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance [2C:5-2], six counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance [2C:35-10(a)(1)], and Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia [2C:36-3]. He was lodged in the Hudson County Jail.

If you think drug dealing is happening anywhere in town, call the Secaucus Police: Tips can be made by calling (201) 330-2049, emailed to spdtips@secaucusnjpolice.gov or submitted anonymously through the department’s website at www.secaucuspolice.org