MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Law Enforcement Seize 10 Kilograms of Heroin, 10 Kilograms of Cocaine with Street Value of Over $1,000,000 and Over $100,000 in United States Currency:
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Chief of Investigations Stephen F. Wilson, Jr., and Chief James Blesson of the Netcong Borough Police Department announce the arrest of two drug traffickers and the seizure of approximately 10 kilograms of suspected heroin, 10 kilograms of suspected cocaine, and $103,180 in United States currency.
During the evening of Tuesday, September 18, a Netcong Patrol Officer conducted a stop of a tractor-trailer for a motor vehicle violation that occurred on Main Street in Netcong Borough. During this motor vehicle stop, after the officer was presented with multiple false names by the truck driver, law enforcement developed probable cause that the occupants of the vehicle were transporting illegal narcotics. A search of the trailer revealed a bulk quantity of heroin (approximately 10 kilograms) and a bulk quantity of cocaine (approximately 10 kilograms) hidden among a cargo shipment of onions in the trailer. Police also located $103,180 in cash believed to be proceeds of drug trafficking in the tractor.
The total street value of the seized narcotics is in excess of one million dollars.
Vantwuan D. Williams, age 44 of Victorville, California, the driver of the tractor trailer was charged with the following:
• 1 count of first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (heroin) with the intent to distribute;
• 1 count of first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (cocaine) with the intent to distribute;
• 1 count of second-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity, by transporting over $75,000 of United State currency believed to be derived from criminal activity;
• 1 count of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (heroin);
• 1 count of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (cocaine); and
• 1 count of Disorderly Persons Hindering Apprehension by giving a false name to law enforcement
Williams was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on the arrest warrant pending his first appearance.
Earl Haggens, 57, Los Angeles, California, the passenger in the truck was charged with the following:
• 1 count of first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (heroin) with the intent to distribute;
• 1 count of first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (cocaine) with the intent to distribute;
• 1 count of second-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity by transporting over $75,000 of United State currency believed to be derived from criminal activity;
• 1 count of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (heroin); and
• 1 count of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (cocaine).
Haggens was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on the arrest warrant pending his first appearance.
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp stated: “Police successfully interdicted a significant quantity of drugs with this investigation. This seizure literally amounts to removing thousands of potential lethal doses of poison from our community.”
Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp wishes to thank the efforts of the Netcong Police officer that commenced the investigation and the entire Netcong Borough Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit (Narcotics Task Force), and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit, which assisted at the scene.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
