DEA agents prepare to raid a fentanyl lab in New Jersey. DEA photo, special to Blogfinger. © 2017
From the Asbury Park Press:
“The raids in Toms River, South Toms River and Berkeley took place in December, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Monmouth-Ocean High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.”
Since 2012, 700 people died of drug overdoes in Monmouth and Ocean Counties . Heroin from Mexico (mostly via the Sinaloa cartel) was involved in most of those deaths, often mixed with other drugs such as fentanyl. Most of the latter is synthesized in Mexico, but some of it is pharmaceutical grade originating in the US. Fentanyl is extremely toxic, even in tiny doses. It was originally developed as an anesthetic agent for medical use.
In 2016, 64,000 individuals died of drug overdoses in the US.
Most of the recent arrests (Dec, Jan and Feb) in Monmouth and Ocean Counties were of both men and women. Heroin, powdered cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and cash were recovered. These arrests will usually lead to stiff Federal charges. 2 of those arrested were found to be members of the Sinaloa cartel.
The DEA Monmouth/Ocean office was set up by the regional office in Newark last year in response to the unusually high rates of drug deaths at the Shore. It is unclear as to why the overdose deaths here have been higher than in most counties in NJ. Typically Ocean County ranks 3rd in the State, while Monmouth is 5th.
Years ago there were drug dealers active in Ocean Grove. Long time Grovers can relate some stories about that. Note that marijuana remains a problem, but the cartel and distribution connections for fatal, powerful drugs remain the main focus of the DEA who work alongside local and state police agencies, including Neptune Township and the State Police.