Stolen Gun, Heroin, Cocaine Recovered In Toms River Drug Bust: OCPO

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two Ocean County residents have been arrested following a three-month investigation into fentanyl, heroin and cocaine distribution in Ocean County, authorities announced.

Nicholas Ryland, 32, of Cream Ridge, Plumsted Township, and Quadazia Scott, 33, of Berkeley Township, were arrested May 2 and 3 in connection with drugs and weapons found at homes in Toms River and Berkeley, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

The homes had been identified as being used by Ryland to store narcotics, Billhimer said.

On May 2, detectives saw Ryland and Scott leave the Berkeley home in separate vehicles and followed both, authorities said.

Ryland was pulled over in Toms River near the Toms River home and arrested and authorities searched his vehicle and the home, seizing 46 grams of crack cocaine, several bricks of heroin/fentanyl, a large unspecified number of suboxone tablets, assorted drug paraphernalia, and $16,000 in cash, authorities said.

Detectives pulled Scott over in Lakewood and after obtaining a search warrant for her vehicle seized an unspecified amount of crack cocaine, authorities said. She was released at the scene, but later charged and surrendered to Toms River police on May 3, authorities said.

At the same time the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team executed a search warrant on the home in Berkeley and seized an unspecified quantity of crack cocaine, assorted drug paraphernalia, a large capacity ammunition magazine, and a Glock semi-automatic handgun that had been reported stolen out of Richmond, Virginia, authorities said.

Ryland was charged with possession of more than a half-ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of less than a half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of more than a half-ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public housing, possession of less than a half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public housing, conspiracy to possess more than a half-ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess less than a half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin, possession of cocaine, possession of suboxone, possession of drug paraphernalia, being a certain person not to possess a firearm, possession of a high capacity ammunition magazine, possession of a firearm during a controlled dangerous substance offense, receiving stolen property (specifically a Glock semi-automatic handgun), and financial facilitation, authorities said.

Ryland is being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Scott was charged with possession of cocaine, conspiracy to possess more than a half-ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to possess less than a half-ounce of heroin with intent to distribute, authorities said. Scott surrendered herself to the Toms River Police Department on May 3 and was subsequently released on her own recognizance, authorities said.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Asset Forfeiture Unit; the Toms River Police Department's Special Enforcement Unit, Emergency Services Unit, and Patrol Division; the Berkeley Township Police Department's Detective Bureau and Patrol Division; the Lakewood Township Police Department's Street Crimes Unit and Patrol Division; the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit collaborated in the investigation.