JANUARY 12, 2000
Trenton,
NJ — Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto announced today that an
eight month investigation by the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force into one of
the area’s largest cocaine trafficking rings has resulted in the arrest of
nine individuals, including ring leader Senen Medina.
At
approximately 1:45 p.m. yesterday, arrest and search warrants were
simultaneously executed at multiple locations in the counties of Mercer and
Burlington. As a result, more than half a pound of powder cocaine was seized, along with five grams of high-grade
heroin. The estimated street value
of the seized cocaine is $28,000. Eight
vehicles with an estimated total value of $50,000 were also seized, along with
two 9MM semi-automatic handguns and $5000 in currency.
Assorted
drug paraphernalia confiscated yesterday includes: one hydraulic press utilized
to repress powder cocaine back into brick form; one high-volume digital scale
utilized to weigh large amounts of controlled dangerous substances (CDS);
multiple digital scales utilized to weigh ounce quantities or smaller amounts of
CDS; two large containers (16 oz.) of procane
and proscent, commonly utilized as
cutting agents with powder cocaine; and large volumes of packaging materials
commonly utilized for the sale of cocaine and heroin (i.e. one-gallon seize
zip-lock baggies, aluminum foil, glassine packets, small rubber bands, stamping
equipment, calculators, blenders, strainers and sifters).
Search
warrants were executed at the following six premises: 202 Cass Street, Trenton;
1770 Greenwood Avenue, Hamilton; 35 Garfield Avenue, Trenton; 843 Centre Street,
Trenton; 579 Centre Street, Trenton; and 660 Button Wood Avenue, Maple Shade
(Burlington County).
“We have dismantled an upper-echelon drug ring responsible
for putting a high volume of drugs on city streets,” Prosecutor Giaquinto
stated. “Drug crimes are never
victimless; community members are the victims.
This demonstrates our continued commitment to the community and the war
on drugs.”
The
lengthy undercover investigation, dubbed “OPERATION COMMUNITY FIRST,” was
led by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and
directed by Lieutenant Al Paglione. The
operation was a direct result of an earlier investigation conducted in late
October 1999 in conjunction with complaints from residents about drug dealing.
At that time, SIU was targeting high narcotics areas in North Trenton,
and a number of undercover buy-bust operations were carried out.
“The
investigation was entitled ‘OPERATION COMMUNITY FIRST’ due to the pleas for
help from the residents of South Trenton for relief from the scourge of drug
dealing,” Prosecutor Giaquinto said.
Information
from this smaller investigation led SIU to a large-scale cocaine ring involving
Angel Rivera and Jose Colon, which was operating out of houses in Trenton and
Hamilton Township. “OPERATION
COMMUNITY FIRST” then commenced in June 2000, targeting Rivera and his
confederates.
This
investigation into the drug activities of Angel Rivera led undercover agents to
the local source of the cocaine – drug kingpin Senen Medina.
Undercover
agents, confidential informants and video surveillance were utilized throughout
the course of this extensive investigation.
Senen
Medina, age 62, is well known to local law enforcement authorities, having been
involved with drug trafficking in the Mercer County area for more than 20 years.
He was recently discharged from parole, after serving a 30-year sentence
for various narcotics offenses.
Medina
is charged with being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network; maintaining
a production facility; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and various
narcotics offenses. If convicted,
he could face life imprisonment, with a 25-year period of parole ineligibility.
Medina is being held in the Mercer County Corrections Center in lieu of
$200,000 bail.
Of
the other defendants taken into custody yesterday during the massive sweep, many
will be charged with various drug related offenses.
Lieutenant Paglione stated that the investigation is ongoing and
additional arrests are anticipated.
Several
other law enforcement agencies assisted with the investigation, including the
Drug Enforcement Administration; New Jersey National Guard Counter Drug Task
Force; New Jersey State Police Headquarters; New Jersey State Police Bordentown
Barracks; Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office; Hunterdon County
Prosecutor’s Office; Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office; Somerset County
Prosecutor’s Office; Burlington County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit; Mercer
County Sheriff’s Department; Ewing Township Police Department; Hamilton
Township Police Department; Lawrence Township Police Department; Maple Shade
Police Department; Princeton Township Police Department; Trenton Police
Department Vice Enforcement Unit; and West Windsor Police Department.
“The
success of this investigation underscores the effectiveness of law enforcement
agencies working together,” stated Prosecutor Giaquinto.
“I commend all of the agencies involved, especially the Trenton Vice
Enforcement Unit, for their expertise and cooperation in stemming the flow of
drugs to our street corners.”
Despite
having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
NAME
DOB
ADDRESS
Colon, Jose
10/23/54
35 Garfield Avenue, Trenton
(AKA Tony Colon)
Diaz, Luilly
Unknown
579 Centre Street, Trenton
Duran, Luis Domingo
10/25/70
843 Centre Street, Trenton
(AKA Marino)
Garcia, Rafael
4/27/58
330 Harrison Street, Bristol, Pa.
(AKA Rafael Rolon AKA Chino)
Madera, Whisis
8/10/79
843 Centre Street, Trenton
Medina, Angel
12/24/57
579 Centre Street, Trenton
Medina, Jose
11/22/49
579 Centre Street, Trenton
(AKA Josian)
Medina, Senen
6/29/38
202 Cass Street, Trenton
Rivera, Angel
12/4/55
1770 Greenwood Avenue, Hamilton