Bergen County Drug Manufacturing Operation Busted: Police

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A Lodi man was arrested and 2 pounds of cocaine and $100,000 was seized following the raid of a drug manufacturing operation at three locations in Paterson and Lodi Tuesday afternoon, authorities announced.

Gabriel Mercado, 37, was charged with multiple drug possession and intent to distribute charges after police and members of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency simultaneously raided 163 Beech St. and 957 East 27th Street in Paterson and at 12 Oration Place and on two vehicles in Lodi, Jerry Speziale, director of the Paterson Department of Public Safety.

Authorities collected the following evidence:

• Three bags of crack cocaine
• 11 bags containing 2.2 pounds of cocaine
• One bag of heroin weighing 1.2 pounds
• Four bags and two jars of marijuana weighing about 75 grams
• 12 Percocet pills

Authorities also recovered $100,000 in cash, Speziale said. Both vehicles searched in the raid had hidden "trap" compartments to hide drugs and weapons, he said.

A Taurus Millennium PT 140 Pro .40-Caliber handgun and a 9mm Smith & Wesson and 82 hollow point bullets were also seized, Speziale said.

Sammy Cuevas, 40, of Paterson, was also charged following the raid.

"The tireless efforts to rid our city of drugs has led to the successful closure of a major drug distribution operation," Speziale said.

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Image courtesy of the U.S. Border Patrol