Original article: http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2016/04/heroin_that_could_be_worth_2m_seized_in_record_nj.html#incart_river_index
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PENNSVILLE TWP. — A North Carolina man has been charged in what authorities say is a record seizure of heroin in Salem County.
Adelfo Miranda-Daza, 27, was allegedly found in possession of four kilos of the drug when he was arrested Thursday evening in Pennsville Township, according to Salem County Prosecutor John T. Lenahan.
Miranda-Daza, of Greensboro, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance greater than five ounces with the intent to distribute, authorities said.
The heroin seized has an estimated value of $350,000 as is, but if the four kilos were packaged for distribution, it could produce nearly 400,000 individual bags with a street value close to $2 million, Lenahan said.
Miranda-Daza was arrested around 6:15 p.m. in the parking lot of a North Broadway motel. An 18-year-old woman with him was questioned and released without any charges, authorities said.
The New Jersey Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Salem County Prosecutor’s Office’s Criminal Investigative Division, Pennsville Police Department and Passaic County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the investigation leading to the arrest, authorities said on Friday.
Along with the drugs, authorities seized a Volkswagen Jetta Miranda-Daza was driving along with cash.
Authorities did not say where they believe Miranda-Daza was headed, but did say they believe the heroin was destined for distribution in the Mid-Atlantic region.
“To make an arrest like this and remove such a large amount of heroin from the streets is amazing,” said Pennsville Chief of Police Allen J. Cummings. “A large dent was put into a drug organization.”
“We are hopeful that overdoses have been avoided and lives saved by the removal of heroin from our streets,” said Lenahan.
In Salem County, like other areas throughout the U.S. heroin is taking a toll.
In 2015 there were 15 deaths from heroin overdoses. The use of Narcan by first responders helped to save 10 other overdose victims.
So far in 2016, the prosecutor said, there have been five overdose incidents resulting in two deaths and three victims whose lives were saved through the use of Narcan.
“The amount of heroin seized in this investigation reinforces the fact that heroin has no boundaries,” said Carl J. Kotowski, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division. “Heroin is being abused as much in the suburbs as it is in our urban areas. We will continue to pursue these violators to take this poison off the street.”
Miranda-Daza remains in the Salem County Correctional Facility, Mannington Township, on $100,000 bail.