Secaucus Warehouse Used To Store Fentanyl, Feds Reveal

SECAUCUS, NJ — A warehouse in Secaucus was used as a fentanyl storage facility, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger revealed Wednesday.

Prosecutors did not say where exactly the warehouse is, only saying it is located in Secaucus. Federal prosecutors said today in this press release the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) had been doing a surveillance on the warehouse last year, as it investigated a drug-trafficking ring operating in New Jersey.

On Feb. 15, 2023, DEA agents watched as a man went to that warehouse, where he loaded boxes into his car. The boxes contained more than 20,000 fentanyl pills, plus eight pounds of raw powder fentanyl, say DEA agents.

The man is Jose Luis Pineda Torres, 48, of Monroe, Washington. On May 20, he pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark to one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.

Here is the shortened criminal complaint against Torres, and here is the press release announcing his arrest, which mentions Secaucus: https://www.justice.gov/usao-n...

The following is from the full criminal complaint against Torres, which Patch obtained a copy of:

"Law enforcement learned that defendant Jose Luis Pineda Torres (“PINEDA TORRES”) is a member of the DTO (drug trafficking organization) who intended to conduct a narcotics transaction on or about February 15, 2023, in or around Secaucus, New Jersey."

"On or about February 15, 2023, at approximately 12:30 p.m., law enforcement observed PINEDA TORRES drive a car (the “Car”) to a warehouse in or around Secaucus, New Jersey and park next to a bay at the warehouse. Law enforcement then observed the bay open and several individuals load boxes (the “Boxes”) from a pallet inside the warehouse to the rear of the Car. Given their knowledge of the DTO’s methods, including prior seizures of controlled substances, law enforcement believed that the Boxes were utilized to store and transport controlled substances."

"After the boxes had been loaded in the Car, PINEDA TORRES sat in the driver’s seat and turned on the Car. Law enforcement approached PINEDA TORRES, who gave law enforcement consent to search the Car. A certified narcotics canine also examined the Car and alerted to the presence of controlled substances, specifically in the Boxes."

"Law enforcement searched the Boxes and found four kilograms (about eight pounds/one kilo is 2.2 pounds) of suspected fentanyl and two vacuum sealed bags containing what appear to be approximately 20,000 fentanyl pills. Law enforcement’s determination of the identity and quantity of controlled substances found in the Boxes is based on the appearance of the controlled substances and their packaging, as well as law enforcement’s training, experience, and the investigation to date."

"After being advised of and waiving his rights pursuant to Miranda, PINEDA TORRES made a number of statements that, based on the investigation, law enforcement knew were false. For example, PINEDA TORRES initially lied about how he obtained the Car and where he was going with the Boxes. Based on PINEDA TORRES’s false statements to law enforcement, the quantity and packaging of the controlled substances found in the Boxes, and lawfully obtained communications, law enforcement believes that PINEDA TORRES possessed fentanyl and fentanyl pills with the intent to distribute them."