Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, and Somerville Chief of Police Dennis Manning announced the arrests of Morgan Smith, 35, and Lila Griffith, 31, both of Somerville.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Aug. 22nd at approximately 7:15 pm., the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force concluded an approximately two-month long investigation into the distribution of narcotics by defendant Smith from a residence located on Bartine Street in Somerville.
Officials say as a result of this investigation, Task Force detectives obtained a Superior Court search warrant for the aforementioned residence.
Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotic Task Force members, the Somerville Police Department and Somerset County Sheriff’s Officer Daneker, along with his K-9 partner Apex, executed the search warrant at defendant Smith’s residence in Somerville. During the search of the residence, a loaded Glock 26 9mm caliber handgun, 315 grams of marijuana, 156 grams of cocaine, 29 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 2 grams of heroin, 231 grams of hashish, 22 grams of THC wax, 24 THC cartridges, 23 pieces of THC edibles, various items of narcotic paraphernalia, and $2,407.00 in U.S. currency were located and seized from the residence.
Officials say the cocaine seized in this investigation has an estimated street value of $11,000, the crystal methamphetamine has an estimated street value of $3,600, the heroin has an estimated street value of $200.00, and the marijuana-based products have an estimated street value of $19,000.00.
Subsequent to executing the search warrant, defendants Smith and Griffith were located inside the residence and later arrested without incident.
According to authorities, both Smith and Griffith were lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Both Smith and Griffith were charged with 1st degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 2nd degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, 2nd degree Possession of a Handgun in the course of committing a CDS violation, 3rd degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, 3rd degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, 3rd degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Hashish, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense. Smith was also charged with 2nd degree Certain Persons not to Possess a Firearm.