Police: Duo Carrying Fake Guns, Synthetic Drugs Arrested in Mahwah

A pile of fake contraband led to real drug and weapons charges against two Massachusetts residents driving through Mahwah Monday night.

According to police, Samantha DeJesus, 22 and Benjamin Reed, 23, both of Nahant, MA, were initially pulled over at about 9 p.m. Monday after cutting off another driver on Route 17 South.

After noticing, “green vegetation matter,” in the car, police got consent to search the vehicle, Police Chief Jim Batelli said in a release Tuesday. Inside, they found more of the plant – which the drivers identified as “spice,” a synthetic form of marijuana – an imitation handgun, imitation rifle, narcotic pills, glass bongs, hypodermic syringes, a digital scale, and other drug paraphernalia, Batelli said.

Cops say they do not know why the two were carrying fake guns, but that they looked realistic.

Their appearance, “would lead an observer to reasonably believe that [they are] real guns and for unlawful purposes,” Batelli said.

Both were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of hypodermic needles, and possession of drug paraphernalia, Batelli said. Additionally, Reed was charged with two counts of possession of an imitation firearm and DeJesus was issued several motor vehicle summonses, cops said.

The two are scheduled to appear in Mahwah Municipal Court this week.

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