NY Man Allegedly Busted with $750K Worth of Heroin in Car in Fort Lee, NJ

Police in Fort Lee NJ recently arrested a New York man who allegedly hid a large quantity of heroin in his motor vehicle.

According to police, a Fort Lee detective pulled over a 2007 Toyota Camry when the driver committed a traffic offense. The traffic violation reportedly occurred on Bergen Boulevard near Hazlitt Street in Fort Lee, NJ.

The police officer looked up the vehicle registration information and learned that the car was in fact owned by a person in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Fort Lee police officer questioned the 44-year-old driver about the vehicle registration; however, the suspect could not provide the name of the person from whom he allegedly “borrowed” the vehicle.

Sometime later, Fort Lee police officers searched the vehicle and allegedly came across a hidden compartment. According to officials, the compartment could be accessed via the center console.

When Fort Lee NJ officers looked inside the compartment, they reportedly saw three kilograms of heroin. Authorities said that the heroin has an estimated street value of roughly $750,000.

Police officers arrested the suspect and charged him with heroin distribution.

If the suspect is convicted on the drug distribution charges, he would be subject to stiff penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5, possession with intent to distribute even a trace amount of heroin is a third degree crime. A conviction for third degree heroin distribution could lead to a sentence of 3-5 years in NJ State Prison.

After being taken into police custody, the suspect was moved to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, New Jersey. He was being held at the jail in lieu of $250K bail.

For further information about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “$750K Heroin Stash Found in Secret Car Compartment, Police Say.”