2014-06-04T16:30:32ZPATERSON, N.J. (AP) — Hundreds of people have been arrested in a massive heroin sweep in northern New Jersey that involved law enforcement agents from a dozen municipalities and four counties.
Prosecutors on Tuesday said 325 people — including more than 280 alleged users and 40 dealers — were snared during the eight-week operation that targeted Paterson-based drug operations. The federal Drug Enforcement Agency says Paterson supplies more pure heroin than anywhere else in the country.
Authorities said members of more than 50 law enforcement agencies in Morris, Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties seized approximately 1,200 grams of raw heroin — enough to sell about 60,000 bags on the street — and another 12,000 bags from users. The heroin has an estimated street value of $350,000, although law enforcement officials said that estimate may be low.
Authorities also seized more than 30 guns and over $25,000 during the operation, which involved undercover agents and surveillance.
Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli released a list of all those arrested. It showed that more than 20 of the users arrested were in possession of crack-cocaine in addition to heroin.
Molinelli said some of those arrested were offered rehabilitation options as part of what he called a "holistic" approach to combating the growing heroin epidemic through a combination of enforcement, rehabilitation, and education.
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