An ongoing investigation into North Ward narcotics trafficking by the Essex County Sheriff led to the arrest April 12 of a Dominican man, the agency said in a statement.
Detectives from the bureau of narcotics searched a second-floor apartment at 306 N. 5th St. after allegedly witnessing Fray Ovando, 45, leave the residence when a motorist pulled up and beeped the horn. Osvado was also seen handing over an object for cash with Osvado, who is slated to be deported back to the Dominican Republic.
Inside the apartment, detectives reportedly found 237 grams of crystal meth, more than a kilo of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The undiluted drugs have a street value of $75,000, according to a “conservative” estimate, Essex County Armando Fontoura said in a statement.
“The recovery of methamphetamine in this area is indeed rare,” said Fontoura. “I’ve been in this business for a long time and our Bureau of Narcotics is the second oldest such unit in New Jersey. This may be only the second or third time we’ve come across the hardcore narcotic in three decades.”
Ovando faces several narcotics charges and was being held in lieu of a $300,000 cash bond. The sheriff’s department alerted the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement as to Ovando’s arrest. ICE agents also put a hold on any release of the suspect.
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