Two Newark males were among four arrested Thursday night as a result of a drug investigation.
In response to neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking in the city’s South Ward, the department’s Bureau of Narcotics started a plainclothes surveillance operation at the intersection of Frelinghuysen Avenue and Noble Street approximately 7 p.m.
While in the area, officers observed as a 1998 Lexus sedan, driven by Charles Finney, 27, and accompanied by the passenger, Rafael Liriano, 24, both of Newark, pull up and park in front of 461 Frelinghuysen Avenue. Within minutes, a 2016 Hyundai Elantra arrived at the scene.
The Elantra’s passenger, Sonia Avellanet, 41, of Elizabeth, exited her vehicle, walked over to the Lexus and engaged Liriano and Finney in conversation.
Finney was then seen passing an orange prescription bottle to Liriano who removed an item and exchanged it with Avellanet for cash.
The Elantra subsequently followed, and a motor vehicle stop was conducted. Avellanet admitted being in possession of one Xanax pill. She was placed under arrest while the driver of the vehicle was sent on his way.
Simultaneously, Jose Perez, 60 of Linden, was observed entering and sitting in the back seat of the Lexus. Detectives moved in on Finney, Liriano, and Perez. In plain sight on the front passenger’s armrest officers reportedly found the suspect prescription bottle which contained 41 Xanax pills.
Also in plain view on the center console was a plastic bag that contained 346 heroin-filled glassine envelopes, stamped ‘WARRIOR’ in blue ink.
All three suspects were placed under arrest. Finney and Liriano were apparently operating a mobile drug store with more than $5,000.00 worth of narcotics.
Police charged Finney and Liriano with two counts each with the sale and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of Weequahic Park.
The two suspects were also charged with conspiracy to violate New Jersey’s narcotics laws.
Also, police issued Finney a summonses for being an unlicensed driver and for transporting CDS in a motor vehicle. He was also found to be the subject of an open warrant issued by the Union County Superior Court vicinage.
Police charged Avellanet with possession of CDS, and she was found to be the subject of an open warrant issued by the Elizabeth municipal court.
Perez was also found to be the subject of an open warrant issued by the Elizabeth municipal court.
All four suspects were lodged at the Essex County jail where Finney and Liriano await a bail hearing.
Avellanet and Perez await court appearances on their warrants.
Photos: Charles Finney and Rafael Liriano