Two alleged drug dealers and one suspected drug buyer were arrested this afternoon by Essex County sheriff’s detectives as a result of a plainclothes surveillance operation that was conducted in the city’s South Ward.
The alleged dealers are scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday.
Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that his department’s Bureau of Narcotics staged the operation near the intersection of Mapes Avenue and Osborne Terrace following numerous neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking in the area.
Sheriff Fontoura said that as his officers observed Marcus Alexander, 44, and, Terry Williams, 49, both of Newark, loiter in front of 182 Mapes Avenue. The two suspects were soon approached by a female passerby, later identified as Christine Powell, 57, also of Newark.
After a brief conversation between Powell and the suspects, Williams walked over to Alexander’s parked 2003 Ford Windstar van and removed an item from the center console which he exchanged with Powell for cash. The money was given to Alexander as Powell walked away from the scene.
Powell was followed and detained. She was found to be in possession of a clear plastic jug containing ‘crack’ cocaine.
Fontoura said the officers then moved in on Alexander and Williams to further investigate.
“In plain site on the van’s center console were two prescription bottles that contained an additional 25 jugs of ‘crack’ and 32 heron-filled glassine envelopes of heroin, stamped ‘MARS’ in red ink,’ the sheriff said. “Additionally, 19 bags of marijuana were also seized from the van.”
Alexander was found to be in possession of $399 and Williams was holding an additional $120. All of the cash was seized.
Alexander and Williams were both charged with 16 criminal counts for the sale, intent and distribution of heroin, cocaine and marijuana, and the violation of New Jersey’s narcotics laws.
A speedy bail of $50,000 cash bond only was imposed on both Alexander and Williams. They were lodged at the county jail and await arraignment on today’s charges on Wednesday.
Powell was issued a summons for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and releases in her own recognizance.
She will be arraigned on December 22nd.