Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrests of Mr. Shahzeb Ahmed 28, and Mr. Salman Ahmed 29, both of Old Tappan on various drug charges.
According to authorities, the arrests are the result of a joint investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, the Old Tappan Police Department, the Dumont Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the complaint filed by authorities, in August 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information that illegal drugs, primarily hash-oil cartridges utilized for vaporizer pens, were being distributed from the Garden State News store located at 216 Old Tappan Road in Old Tappan.
In response, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, the Dumont Police Department, and the Old Tappan Police Department initiated a narcotics investigation.
Authorities said the investigation revealed that, from the Garden State News store that is family owned and operated by the Ahmeds, were involved in the distribution of dangerous controlled substances in the area of Old Tappan.
As a result of this investigation, on November 1, 2017, search warrants were executed at the Garden State News store and Ahmed’s residence.
Authorities said Shazeb Ahmed was working at the store when the search warrant was executed.
Police said Shazeb possessed hash- oil vaporizer cartridges on his person and had several additional hash-oil vaporizer cartridges were located in the store behind the sales counter. These items were seized as evidence.
As a result of searching the residence, approximately 215 hash oil vaporizer cartridges, several packages of THC-infused edibles, greenish-brown vegetation suspected of being marijuana, numerous Adderall pills, as well as drug paraphernalia associated with the use and distribution of dangerous controlled substances were seized from this location.
Authorities said they located U.S. currency from the residence and business. Additionally, bank accounts associated with both men were frozen pending seizure.
The total amount of U.S. currency seized is **$100,627.02** authorities said.
The total street value of the controlled dangerous substances seized on this date is approximately **$20,000.00**.
As a result of the investigation, police charged Shazeb with one count of Money Laundering, two counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Hash Oil, one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Hash Oil within 500 feet of a public park, two counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Hash Oil within 1000 feet of a school zone, one count of Possession of Adderall, one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia associated with the Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances, and one count of Possession of Marijuana Under 50 Grams,
Police said on Friday, November 3rd, Salman turned himself into the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office for arrest processing.
Authorities charged him with one count of Money Laundering, two counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Hash Oil, one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Hash Oil within 500 feet of a public park, two counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Hash Oil within 1000 feet of a school zone, one count of Possession of Adderall, one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia associated with the Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances, a 4th degree crime; and one count of Possession of Marijuana Under 50 Grams,
Prosecutor Grewal states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the Old Tappan Police Department, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, and the Dumont Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.