Arrested in NJ in Operation That’s All Folks

“Operation Justice Served” took five months and broke down a drug ring allegedly responsible for putting an average of 2,500 packets of heroin on New Jersey streets every month. Local law enforcement in Freehold, New Jersey, worked together with federal, state, and county authorities to arrest 42 people over the last month and seize:

• 2,700+ bags of heroin
• 16 ounces of marijuana
• 300 grams of cocaine
• Dozens of prescription pills

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said: “The joint efforts of these multiple law enforcement agencies involved in Operation Justice Served have accomplished the mission of taking down this local drug trafficking network responsible for bringing drugs into the county and threatening quality of life and the safety of residents. Perhaps most importantly, a drug trafficking network that was moving about 2,500 bags of heroin and 200 grams of cocaine a week is officially out of business as this operation stopped its ability to put dangerous substances into our community.”

Based out of Freehold Borough, the alleged drug ring consisted of many people from Freehold Township but included others from Bayonne, Manalapan Township, Long Branch, and Somerset Township. About 13 people were charged with:

Bail amounts ranged from more than $1 million with a 10 percent option to $65,000 with no 10 percent option. Three more people believed to be associated with drug sales in this group remain at large.

One More Down

Operation That’s All Folks marks one more endeavor on the part of law enforcement to disrupt the flow of drugs to the streets. While this effort is to be respected, the fact is that many will be back to their old habits within a few months, and others will rise up in their place to fill the void and connect people who are struggling with addiction with their substance of choice.

It is an ongoing back and forth struggle that has been happening for decades, and as we continue to see overdose rates rise, it is essential that we as a nation work together to create a new plan if we are to see positive change. Something must happen to change the status quo if we are going to connect the many people who are living with addiction with treatment and prevent young people from developing an addiction that could be life-threatening.

First Things First

In order to lower the rates of overdose, we must be able to intervene effectively when an overdose strikes. Because opiate overdose specifically is such a huge problem, increasing access to naloxone, a drug that can effectively overturn an opiate overdose and stop it from becoming fatal, is essential. This means putting the drug into the hands of first responders as well as into the hands of friends and loved ones who may be on hand to help someone in need.