Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose have announced that detectives seized three handguns and more than four pounds of marijuana during a raid in Newark earlier Friday morning.
According to authorities detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department, have been conducting an investigation into reports of narcotics distribution in the 400 block of South 18th Street, Newark.
As a result of this investigation, detectives obtained search warrants for an apartment on the block authorities said.
Tasn force detectives, with assistance from the Newark Police Emergency Response Team, executed the warrants and recovered three handguns, over four pounds of suspected, marijuana, and more than $15,000 in U.S. currency.
The street value of the marijuana is in excess of $40,000. During the raid, detectives arrested Markel E. Nelson, age 25, of Newark authorities said.
Nelson has been charged possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and weapons offenses.
He has been lodged in the Essex County Correctional Facility pending an appearance in the Essex County Central Judicial Processing Court.