The Mercer County Narcotics Task Force concluded a two-month investigation recently with the seizure of more than $25,000 in heroin and cocaine, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.
Onofri stated that, on the evening of December 3, detectives with the MCNTF initiated surveillance of the investigation’s target, Confessor Santa, as well as two residences he utilizes in Trenton.
Detectives then conducted a motor vehicle stop of Santa and the intersection of Brunswick Avenue and Heath Street in Trenton.
Santa and his girlfriend, Victoria Simms, were detained.
Detectives proceeded to execute search warrants at both locations, and Mercer County Prosecutor’s Sergeant Joe Angarone and utilized his K9 partner Bela to conduct drug searches.
Bela gave positive indications for the presence of a narcotics in both residences. At 718 Ohio Avenue in Trenton, detectives located 99 bricks of heroin and 10 grams of cocaine on the staircase leading to the basement.
Detectives located 17 bricks of heroin, 10 grams of cocaine and a .45 caliber handgun in Santa’s bedroom at 200 Pennington Avenue in Trenton.
Cash totaling $1,980 was also seized. Onofri stated that the total amount of heroin seized, 5,800 individual bags, has an approximate street value of $23,200.
The cocaine has an approximate street value of $2,000.
Santa, 29, of Trenton, was arrested and charged with second-degree narcotics offenses and weapons offenses.
He is being held at the Mercer County Correction Center pending a detention hearing. Simms, 26, was charged with second-degree narcotics offenses and endangering the welfare of a child.
At the time the search warrant was executed on Ohio Avenue and the narcotics were seized, Simms’ three children were at home with a babysitter.
She was released pending future court proceedings.
Officers with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Hamilton, Princeton and Trenton police, under the command of the prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit, assisted with the investigation.