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Ramon “Rafael” Fabian-Pena, 59, and two accused accomplices from Trenton were taken into custody by DEA agents during the raids, authorities said.
A U.S. District Court judge in Newark ordered Thursday that Fabian-Pena remain in custody.
Released on bail were Robin Peralta, 37, and Luis Susana-Delossanto, 32.
All were charged with possession with the intent to sell large quantities of heroin after agents seized nearly 85 pounds of cocaine and heroin combined, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
A search of Delossanto’s vehicle produced a whopping 63 pounds of cocaine, the U.S. attorney said.
A search of Peralta’s home turned up nearly seven pound of heroin and an unspecified amount of proceeds, he said.
Cellphone video captures the Passaic raid that included Fabian-Pena being taken into custody on Wednesday.
Also participating in the DEA New Jersey Task Force investigation, raids and arrests were members of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office in Trenton and Hamilton Township police, Carpenito said.
(The New Jersey State Police led the task force, which is comprised of DEA special agents and officers from various county and local police departments in the state.)
Passaic Mayor Hector Carlos Lora applauded the “commitment and efforts of our law enforcement agents to keep the streets of Passaic clean” -- and urged citizens to do the same.
“Our police officers must be given the encouragement, resources, and support to go out and combat the scourge of crime and violence in our cities if we are to expect clean and safe communities to live in,” Lora said.
Criminals are brazen, often with “complete disregard for innocent lives,” the mayor added.
The work that produced the large drug seizure should “send a direct message to criminals who constantly threaten the quality of life of our law abiding residents,” he said.
Handling the case for the government are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassye Cole and Vera Varshavsky of Carpenito’s Criminal Division in Newark.
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