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They also seized more than a half-ounce of cocaine, eight suboxone films and several hollow-point bullets, Police Director Jerry Speziale said.
It began with the smaller bust of a driver stopped by Narcotics Division detectives who, Speziale said, had just bought 10 bags of heroin stamped "Karma" in red ink, along with a knotted bag of crack, from a dealer in a white Chrysler 3000 on McBride Avenue.
The detectives seized the buyer as the Chrysler drove off, the director said.
Police identified the driver as ex-con Miguel Ortega, 35, of West Milford, who Speziale said also kept an apartment on Caldwell Avenue -- where they found the Chrysler parked in the driveway.
Ortega emerged from the home on Thursday and was stopped and arrested by police in the area of River and Bridge streets a short time later, he said.
Armed with a warrant, detectives searched the Caldwell Avenue apartment.
Besides the drugs and cash, Speziale said, they found three handguns:
- a Taurus .380 serial reported stolen out of Horry County, SC;
- a Taurus 9mm reported stolen out of Columbia, PA;
- a Bryco Arms 9mm.
Ortega remained held Saturday in the Passaic County Jail.
He's charged with a host of drug and weapons offenses, including three counts each of being a convicted felon in possession of handguns and using them while dealing drugs.
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