Cops: Man Had 40 Bags of Heroin in Sock

Two Pennsylvania men with no knowledge of where they were or where they were headed are facing drug charges after being arrested for heroin and drug paraphernalia in Wayne.

The arrests came after Wayne Police approached a 4-door gold vehicle with no visible front license plate on Saturday afternoon after believing the car was disabled due to its positioning at the entrance of the Exxon station on Route 23 North, Wayne Captain Laurence Martin said. But while speaking to the driver, Vincent Sbano, 49, of Stroudberg, PA, police noticed the passenger, Brian K. Birchenough, 29, of Stroudsberg, PA “reach into the ash tray and attempt to conceal a brown colored cigarette which had an open end revealing vegetation.”

Birchenough said the cigarette contained tobacco, but after seizing the cigarette, police realized it was synthetic marijuana known by brand name “K2,” Captain Martin said.

Sbano and Birchenough, who were unable to remember where they were or where they were going and mentioned Totowa and Whippany interchangeably, then suddenly informed police they were in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police recovered 40 bags of suspected heroin stamped “Superman” in Sbano’s sock and a syringe he told police he left in the vehicle, while Birchenough “suddenly surrendered a syringe and plastic spoon with white powdery residue.” Birchenough was also found to be in possession of five empty bags of suspected heroin stamped “Superman.”

Both men were placed under arrest and transported to Wayne Police Headquarters for processing, where Sbano was charged with possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of CDS in a motor vehicle and Birchenough was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both parties were released on summons complaints pending court dates, according to Captain Martin.

Photo 1: Vincent Sbano

Photo 2: Brian Birchenough

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