By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Mercer County announced that a month-long investigation into narcotics distribution in the Mercer County area has culminated with one arrest and the seizure of $40,000 in heroin.
Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported that on Monday, October 16, the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ewing, Hamilton, and Trenton police initiated surveillance in the parking lot of the River’s Edge Apartments on Country Lane in Ewing Township based on information received during the investigation.
Authorities say at approximately 8:30 p.m., officers observed the target of the investigation, Onasis Santos-Estevez, arrive in a red Mitsubishi Outlander.
According to officials, the driver and Santos-Estevez were detained without incident.
Sgt. Tom Paglione utilized his K-9 partner, Indy, to conduct an exterior sniff of the vehicle, which resulted in Indy alerting him to the scent of narcotics on the rear passenger-side door, officials stated.
Officials said a search warrant was executed, and inside the Outlander, detectives located a blue reusable shopping bag containing approximately 200 bricks of heroin under the front passenger seat.
Santos-Estevez, 47, of Philadephia, PA, officials say, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with the intent to distribute.
The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain him pending trial.
According to Prosecutor Onofri, the street value of the confiscated heroin is approximately $40,000.
