Three Arrested In Southern Ocean County Drug Bust

Three Camden County residents are facing drug charges after authorities spotted what appeared to be drug activity in Southern Ocean County, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Detectives from the Prosecutor's Office and the Stafford Township and Little Egg Harbor Township police departments set up surveillance on April 6 to prepare to a search warrant for a home at 2 Hannah Place in Little Egg Harbor, along with a 2001 black Ford Taurus, said spokesman Al Della Fave.

Authorities had already spotted a vehicle arrived at the home and saw what appeared to be a narcotics-related exchange between the driver and Brandon Marino.

Detectives then stopped a white Ford Mustang on Route 9 in Little Egg Harbor and seized roughly $2,700 in cash. The driver was identified as Patrick Farrell.

Detectives then observed Marino exit the target residence and leave the area in the black Ford Taurus. Little Egg Harbor police stopped Marino and the black Taurus and took both back to his residence. When they searched the home, they found cocaine, marijuana, cash and drug paraphernalia, Della Fave said.

Marino, Farrell and Leighann Brown were placed under arrest and transported to the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department where they were processed and subsequently released pending future court proceedings.

Police also developed more information that Farrell had additional quantities of marijuana and cash at his home at 249 Division Lane, Berlin.

A subsequent search of the Berlin home yielded more marijuana, THC wax, THC brownies, cash and drug paraphernalia.

Arrested were:

Brandon Marino, 22, Berlin, possession of CDS with intent to distribute more than once once of marijuana, possession of CDS over 50 grams, possession of under half an ounce of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Patrick Farrell, 21, Berlin, was charged with possession of CDS with intent to distribute over one ounce of marijuana, possession of marijuana over 50 grams, more charges are pending.

Leighann Brown, 19, Berlin, conspiracy to possess CDS with intent to distribute over once ounce or more of marijuana, more charges are pending.

All three subjects were released from the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department pending future court proceedings.