County and local authorities have announced that detectives seized three handguns and narcotics packaging material during a raid in Newark earlier this week.
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 at a residence on Melrose Place in Newark.
As a result of this investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence., Taskforce detectives, with assistance from the Newark Police Emergency Response Team, executed the warrant and recovered three handguns, two semi-automatic pistols, and a .38 caliber revolver.
Detectives also recovered numerous rounds of ammunition, drug scales, and narcotics packaging materials.
During the raid, detectives arrested Alex Johnson, age 28, of Newark.
Johnson has been charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, violation of firearms regulatory provisions and possession of narcotics paraphernalia, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly.
Johnson was lodged in the Essex County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.