South Brunswick Resident Among 26 Charged in $250k Heroin Bust

A New Jersey State Police-organized sweep on Tuesday morning netted more than $250,000 in heroin, 26 arrests and $150,000 in cash in a bust that police say broke up a major heroin distribution ring that reached into six counties.

Operations focused on the alleged drug distribution operation of two Piscataway men, Derek Fuqua, 35 and Kevin Harrell, 34 who are believed to have used a large network of family and friends to distribute heroin in Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Union, Somerset and Hudson counties, according to a press release from State Police.

Lateefah Fuqua, 30, of South Brunswick, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, with bail set at $150,000.

More than 100 officers executed nine search warrants in five towns before 6 a.m. Tuesday, including New Brunswick.

The majority of the drugs were found at two houses where Fuqua lives: a  house on Ellen Street in New Brunswick and a house on Aspen Court in Piscataway, according to the release.

Seven other arrests were made in New Brunswick, in Somerset, and seven in Piscataway, including a male juvenile.

"In total, detectives recovered more than two kilos of raw heroin worth $190,000, more than 150 grams of black tar heroin, more than 100 bricks (50 doses each) of packaged heroin, 70 grams of crack cocaine, 22 grams of crystal meth, six handguns (four of which were entered as stolen), one bullet proof vest, and more than $150,000 cash," the release said. "Additionally, many items related to a drug production facility were seized including grinders, scales, stamps and ink pads, and packaging materials."

Fuqua and Harrell were both charged with Leader of Narcotic Network, Maintaining a Drug Production Facility, Possession of Heroin, and Distribution of Heroin and are both being held at the Middlesex County jail with bail set at $500,000 each.

"We have charged the two alleged leaders of this drug set with leading a narcotics trafficking network, a first-degree crime that carries a sentence of life in prison, including 25 years without parole,” said Elie Honig, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice, in a prepared statement.

In New Brunswick, the following people were arrested and charged, according to State Police. All suspects are being held at the Middlesex County Jail.

• Jenneffer Morfa, 26, of New Brunswick, charged with Maintaining a Production Facility Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin; Possession of Heroin; Possession with Intent to Distribute; and Certain Persons not to Possess Weapons. Bail is set at $500,000. 
• Cynthia Fuqua, 51, of New Brunswick, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin; Possession of Hollow Point Ammunition ; and Maintaining a fortified premises. Bail is set at $150,000.
• Tyquan Fuqua, 21, of New Brunswick, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin; Possession of Heroin; and Possession with Intent to Distribute. Bail is set at $150,000.
• James Fuqua, 53, of New Brunswick, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin; and Possession of Heroin. Bail is set at $150,000.
• James Smith, 29, of New Brunswick, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute heroin. Bail is set at $150,000.
• Allen Coleman, 54, of New Brunswick, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute. Bail is set at $150,000.
• Lonnie Brittion, 33, of New Brunswick, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin. Bail is set at $150,000.

The operation was executed with involvement from the following police departments: the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office; the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office; the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office; the New Brunswick Police Department; the Somerset County tactical unit; the Edison Police Department; the Piscataway Police Department; the Franklin Police Department and the North Brunswick Police Department.