Officer Nicole DiPasquale stopped the Peterbilt truck for multiple motor vehicle violations on the southbound highway shortly after 8 a.m. Saturday, April 27, Lt. Michael Blondin said.
The occupants gave conflicting accounts of where they were coming from and headed to, leading to a search request that was granted by the driver, Karel Reza-Perez, a 39-year-old Louisville, KY, resident, the lieutenant said.
The search turned up a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, along with the coke, drug paraphernalia and stolen New Jersey and Tennessee license plates, Blondin said.
Reza-Perez and his passengers, Yorkiel Crespo-Garcia, 34, of Kearny, and Dayana Duran-Ramirez, 25, of Hialeah, FL, were all taken into custody and charged with drug and weapons offenses, he said.
Reza-Perez was also charged with having a bogus license plate and received several motor vehicle summonses, Blondin said.
All three were sent to the Bergen County Jail, where they remained at last check Monday evening.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Englewood and receive free news updates.