Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Stafford Township Police Chief Thomas Dellane announced today the culmination of a one-month cooperative investigation into drug activity in the Southern Ocean County area.
According to a statement released by The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, detectives from the Prosecutor's Special Operations Group, Southern Enforcement Unit joined forces with the Stafford Township Police Department to investigate the distribution of Marijuana and Marijuana THC Oil in the southern Ocean County area.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of two Stafford Township men on various drug charges.
Authorities say this cooperative investigation identified two Stafford Township residences, specifically in the 700 block of Buccaneer Lane and the 1000 block of Barnacle Drive, Manahawkin as being utilized by Mr. Erik Kretschmer, 23, of Buccaneer Lane and Garrett Mandrona, 23, of Barnacle Drive to store and distribute quantities of Marijuana.
According to the statement, authorities say Detectives also identified a 2012 Ford Focus as being utilized by Mr. Kretschmer to store, transport and distribute quantities of CDS to include Marijuana and THC Oils.
As a result of the investigation, detectives obtained search warrants for both of the residences mentioned as well as the listed vehicle according to authorities.
Authorities say on Monday, July 16, 2018, at approximately 5:00 am, Prosecutor’s Detectives along with members of the Stafford Township Police Departments Drug Enforcement Unit, K-9 Unit and members of the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team simultaneously executed search warrants at the listed residences.
Police executed a search warrant on the 2012 Ford Focus which was located at Buccaneer Lane authorities said.
Police say upon executing the search warrants, Officers located Mr. Kretschmer at the Buccaneer Lane address, and Mr. Mandrona was at the home on Barnacle Drive.
According to police, both men were placed under arrest on various drug charges then transported to Stafford Township Police Headquarters where they were processed.
Police say as a result of this investigation and the execution of the listed search warrants, police seized over six pounds of Marijuana along with 100 vials of THC Oil.
Police Charged Kretschmer, who they say possessed Marijuana over five pounds with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
According to police, Garrett Mandrona was arrested then charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
The incidents remain under investigation.