Two Texas residents who were allegedly trafficking more than a quarter-million dollars of cocaine into South Jersey were indicted Thursday on distribution and conspiracy charges.
An investigation by the Atlantic City Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations found that Esiquio Salgado, 33, and Cristano Ramirez, 31, planned to bring five kilograms of cocaine to a South Jersey location on Oct. 18 of last year.
The two arrived at the location in a vehicle with Connecticut license plates and allegedly delivered the cocaine in a duffle bag, according to the charges.
They were arrested and the drugs seized. They had a street value of about $230,000, officials said.
"This was a great bust that promises to keep these alleged drug-traffickers behind bars, where they cannot deliver addiction and violence to our communities in multi-kilo bundles," Attorney General Christopher Porrino said.
"This indictment is another victory for the task force, for public safety and for the people of Atlantic City and the surrounding communities," said Elie Honig, director of the Division of Criminal Justice.
The two men are charged with first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, which carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison. They also face second-degree conspiracy charges, which carries a possible five- to 10-year prison term, and third-degree cocaine possession, which is three to five years in prison.
The two were held in the Burlington County Jail on $150,000 bail each.
