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Authorities arrested 15 people, recovered more
than three kilos of cocaine, $80,577 in cash and several guns including
an AK-47 Assault Rifle, during a series of arrests that began last
Thursday and continued through Sunday, announced Union County Prosecutor
Theodore J. Romankow.
Members of the Union County Narcotics Strike Force began investigating
the operation last November and through a variety of information
gathering techniques were able to successfully map out the group, headed
by Luqman Abdullah, DOB: 11-22-81 of Elizabeth.
Abdullah, who remains at large, is charged with 1st degree Racketeering,
and 2nd degree maintaining a narcotics production facility and numerous
drug and weapon offenses. He will be held on $5 million bail once
arrested.
Dubbed Operation Red Zone, investigators raided several locations,
including an apartment on Chancellor Avenue in Newark that held
“nothing but drugs, guns and the equipment necessary to cut and
process cocaine,” said Romankow.
The group also used a house in Sayreville to stash the proceeds
from the sales. A list of search warrant locations is attached to this
release.
Authorities also seized an amount of marijuana, heroin and other items
during the raids.
According to the investigation, the ring operated in Essex and Union
Counties. A conservative estimate is that the group put at least two
kilos of cocaine on the streets every week with a street value of
$350,000 per kilo.
A number of law enforcement agencies participated in the operation
including the FBI, New Jersey State Police, The Union County Police
Department and the Elizabeth, Roselle Park, Linden, Springfield,
Westfield and Clark Police Departments.
“The FBI in cooperation with its law enforcement partners is
committed to the investigation and arrests of gang members and their
associates,” said FBI Special Agent In Charge Weysan Dun. We will
be relentless in our quest for justice.”
The arrests began last Thursday evening when Abdul Hassan, DOB:
1-18-1974, of Elizabeth exited a restaurant at the Menlo Park Mall. The
Union County Prosecutor’s Office received cooperation from the
Edison Police Department in making the arrest. He is currently being held
on $3 million bail. At the time, detectives recovered $3,699 in cash
inside Hassan’s car.
A full
list of those arrested, their charges and bail is attached to this
release.
There are currently six members of the operation,
including Luqman Abdullah and Darrel Brignolle, a
high-ranking member of the operation, who remain at large.
The Union County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for
information leading to the arrest and indictment of the wanted
individuals. All calls are kept strictly confidential and anonymous.
Crime Stoppers may be reached at (908) 654-TIPS (8477).
“The scope of their operation was astounding and brought a lot of
pain into a lot of lives,” said Romankow. “These are
dangerous individuals and the only place suitable for them is behind
bars.”
These criminal
charges are mere accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent
until proven guilty in a court of law.
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