Major MS-13, Drug-Trafficking Bust Announced In NJ

Thirty-six people in New Jersey have been charged in a major drug-trafficking bust called "Operation Snow Bank," netting members of the MS-13 gang, that has been targeted by President Trump, according to the state police.

The targets were three rival drug trafficking organizations, including five alleged MS-13 gang members. Police seized more than 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, more than two ounces of heroin, marijuana and more than $35,000 cash, according to a state police release.

MS-13 is an international crime gang that has been around for 30 years but has raised fears recently because of its growing presence in suburbs. Members are characterized by tattoos covering the body and also often the face. Trump has called for adding 10,000 new ICE officers to stop them.

The eight-month cooperative investigation in New Jersey began in December of 2016 and targeted cocaine trafficking organizations operating largely in Plainfield.

Detectives allege that the three rival drug trafficking networks were headed by Andres Hernandez-Diaz, 46; Julian Mirambeaux-Olivarez, 46; and Manuel Castillo-Concepcion, 37, all of Plainfield, the release said.

Hernandez-Diaz allegedly coordinated cocaine distribution from the Bronx. Members of the trafficking network would use an apartment in New York City to prepare and package cocaine specifically for distribution, which at one time resulted in more than 2,000 grams distributed in one month, the release said.

On July 11, the New Jersey State Police Trafficking Central Unit and U.S. HSI members received information that David Zapata-Gaitan, 34, of Plainfield, an alleged member of MS-13 and member of the Hernandez-Diaz network, would be trafficking cocaine from Plainfield to Stafford County, Virginia, the release said.

With assistance from HSI and the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, Zapata-Gaitan, along with Luis Camino, 35, of Elizabeth, and Maribel Zamudio, 27, of North Plainfield, were arrested, and half of a kilogram of cocaine was seized, the release said.

Mirambeaux-Olivarez allegedly operated his network using “runners” for distribution. During the investigation, detectives seized more than 900 grams of cocaine from the Mirambeaux-Olivarez network as well as more than 50 grams of raw heroin and fictitious documents such as driver’s licenses and social security cards, the release said.

Detectives allege that Castillo-Concepcion operated his network day and night largely out of a residence on Arlington Avenue in Plainfield, which distributed more 2,200 grams of cocaine in a one-month stretch.

On Friday, July 21, Monday, July 24, and Thursday, July 27, police executed search warrants at various locations. As a result, detectives arrested 36 people and seized drugs and cash.

Here is the list of people arrested:

Julian Mirambeuax-Olivarez, 46, Plainfield

• 1st Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 2nd Degree Distribution of Heroin
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine and Heroin
• 3rd Degree Forgery
• 3rd Degree Distribution within 1,000 Ft of School Zone
• 2nd Degree Distribution within 500 Ft of Public Building
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine/Heroin
• 4th Degree Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Andres Hernandez-Diaz, 46, Plainfield

• 1st Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Distribution within 1,000 Ft of School Zone
• 2nd Degree Distribution within 500 Ft of Public Building
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

Manuel Castillo-Concepcion, 37, Plainfield

• 1st Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Distribution of Heroin
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine and Heroin
• 3rd Degree Distribution within 1,000 Ft of School Zone
• 2nd Degree Distribution within 500 Ft of Public Building
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
• 4th Degree Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Jesus Rondon, 32, Plainfield

• 2nd Degree Distribute of Heroin
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin

Migdalia Acevedo, 37, Plainfield

• 1st Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Distribution within 1,000 Ft of School Zone
• 2nd Degree Distribution within 500 Ft of Public Building
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Esperanza Hernandez, 41, Bronx, N.Y.

• 1st Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine
• Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Money Laundering

Luis Andino-Davila, 43, Bronx, N.Y.

• 1st Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Money Laundering
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Firearms

David Zapata-Gaitan, 34, Plainfield (Alleged MS-13 Member)

• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
• 4th Degree Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Luis Camino, 35, Elizabeth

• 1st Degree Drug Trafficking
• Maribel Zamudio, 27, North Plainfield
• 1st Degree Drug Trafficking

Amilcar-Larios-Santiago, 26, Plainfield (Alleged MS-13 Member)

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Ana Perez, 27, Plainfield, N.J.

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Andres Saquic-Gonzalez, 28, North Plainfield

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Armando Castillo-Ventura, 52, Plainfield

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Bernardo Castillo-Concepcion, 50, Plainfield

• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine

Brian Lopez, 35, Plainfield

• Loitering to Possess Cocaine

Charlie Lopez-Rodriguez, 26, Plainfield

• 2nd Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

Daniel Babcock, 47, Phillipsburg

• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine

Domingo Brieto, 58, Plainfield

• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine

Edwin Lambur-Cruz, 38, Orange

• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine

Elvin Maisonet, 44, Paterson

• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine

Francisco Alvarenga-Yanez, 27, Plainfield

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Joan Guzman-Perez, 21, Plainfield

• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine
• Possession of Marijuana

Julio Martinez, 21, Plainfield

• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine
• Possession of Marijuana

Mauro Collao, 41, North Plainfield.

• 2nd Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

Melvin Abrego, 24, Plainfield (Alleged MS-13 Member)

• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

Miguel Costa-Paladines, 45, Plainfield

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Miguel Mirambeaux, 44, Plainfield

• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Possess Firearms
• 3rd Degree Possession of a Firearm

Raylimi Mirambeaux-Concepcion, 18, Plainfield

• Loitering to Possess CDS Cocaine

Santander Gonzalez, 59, Plainfield

• 1st Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Distribution within 1,000 Ft of School Zone
• 2nd Degree Distribution within 500 Ft of Public Building
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

Saul Guardado-Guille, 21, Plainfield (Alleged MS-13 Member)

• 3rd Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Possession of Cocaine
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Wilfredo Lopez-Arriaga, 26, Plainfield (Alleged MS-13 Member)

• 3rd Degree Distribution of Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Cocaine
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant

Rodolfo Cardona, 58, Highland Park

• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

Jonathan Caldero-Berrios, 34, Plainfield

• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

Israel Borges, 42, Plainfield

• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine

Luis Rogelarriaga, 36, North Plainfield

• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
• 3rd Degree Possession of Crack/Cocaine

“Operation Snow Bank was a multi-pronged attack on drug trafficking in Plainfield that targeted three rival networks – including MS-13 gang members – responsible for distributing heroin and cocaine,” said Attorney General Christopher Porrino. “By collaborating across all levels of law enforcement, we tripled our impact in stemming the supply of these corrosive drugs and the violence that accompanies these rivalries."

“I commend the members of our Trafficking Central Unit and our law enforcement partners for their efforts that ultimately led to the dismantling of several drug organizations and disrupted the flow of cocaine and heroin coming into our neighborhoods.” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “We will continue to target these drug trafficking operations and seek out the criminals that profit from the illicit drug trade that infects communities with violence and misery."

State Police photo