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City police rounded up a dozen people in all, bringing the most serious charges drug sale and possession charges against brothers Xavier, Julius and Luis Rodriguez (left to right in mugshots), all 22 years old.
New Milford police assisted in the investigation, which led to the arrests of the trio at their Pacific Street home on Friday, Hackensack Police Director Michael Mordaga told CLIFFVIEW PILOT this afternoon.
Also arrested was 21-year-old Richith Nagaraha of Harringon Park, who was being held on $50,000 bail in the county jail on various charges of distributing and possessing marijuana and the wax.
Eight other people were charged and released on summonses, Mordaga said.
Authorities seized pot, cash, cellphones, bongs, propane torches and other paraphernalia, along with the drug Molly, he said.
“Weed wax” is considered dangerous because of its high concentration of THC, the mind-altering ingredient found in marijuana. Most marijuana joints have levels of THC below 25%, while the wax can be as high as 85%, the DEA says.
Four times more expensive than regular pot — at anywhere from $40 to $80 a gram — it has the consistency of lip balm and is stored in small containers.
What’s even more dangerous is the way it’s produced — by soaking marijuana leaves in highly-flammable solvents, such as butane, which reduces them to oil that is then dried.
Extraction-lab explosions have been reported, primarily in Southern California, where the product has its origins.
(l. to r.) Xavier, Julius and Luis Rodriguez MUGSHOTS: Courtesy BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF/ IMAGES: Courtesy HACKENSACK PD
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