The New Jersey State Police have arrested 11 men, dismantled a cargo theft trafficking ring, and recovered more than $1 million worth of merchandise, which was destined to supply nearly a dozen national retail stores in New Jersey and across the country.
Police say the five-month investigation dubbed “Operation Botany Strike,” began on October 14, 2017, when detectives from the New Jersey State Police Interstate Theft North Unit began investigating the theft of a tractor-trailer, which contained $104,000 worth of meat, from a trucking lot in South Amboy, N.J. Troopers located the abandoned tractor-trailer later that day at the Vince Lombardi Service Area on the New Jersey Turnpike and began following leads, which ultimately uncovered the organized theft ring.
Through various investigative means, detectives determined that members of the theft ring would transport stolen tractor-trailers from various jurisdictions throughout the state to specific locations within a business facility at 90 Dayton Avenue in Passaic.
That facility served as the predominant location where members would load and offload stolen cargo as well as store the stolen tractor-trailers.
Detectives also identified secondary locations in Little Ferry and Secaucus which served a similar function.
As a result of the operation, 16 loads of stolen cargo were recovered from 10 national victim companies. The seized cargo, which was worth more than $1 million, included clothing, granite, home goods, landscaping equipment, and food products and was destined to be sold domestically and overseas.
Detectives from the New Jersey State Police Interstate Theft North Unit led the operation with assistance from the following agencies:
New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice
South Amboy Police Department
Lakewood Police Department
South Brunswick Police Department
Newark Police Department
Carlstadt Police Department
Kearny Police Department
Edison Police Department
Woodbridge Police Department
The following were arrested and charged:
Ambiorix Canela-Rodriguez, 26, of Paterson, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Fencing
Conspiracy
Adiel Acevedo-Ortiz, 26, of Paterson, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Conspiracy
Carlos Alcantara, 60, of Passaic, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Conspiracy
Bassim Fardos, 38, North Bergen, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Conspiracy
Elvis Valerio, 34, of Passaic, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Conspiracy
Wilfredo Valle, 38, of Passaic, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Conspiracy
Milton Vargas, 48, of Paterson, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Conspiracy
Nelson Pena-Restituyo, 51, of Union City, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Conspiracy
Luis Lourido, 50, of Union City, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Conspiracy
Eduardo Ramos, 32, of Union, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Conspiracy
Angel DeLeon, 35, of Hawthorne, N.J.
Receiving stolen property
Conspiracy
Charges are mere accusations, and the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty.