A two-month investigation involving several agencies led to four arrests, five guns and a variety of drugs in Atlantic City this week.
Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, along with the Atlantic City Police Department Special Investigations Section and SWAT Team simultaneously searched two apartments at the Madison Hotel on Wednesday, Lt. Kevin Fair said.
During the investigation, detectives recovered five handguns, 34 grams of heroin, 17 grams of cocaine, 310 grams of marijuana, and $1,000 in cash.
The investigation was led by task force members Detective Will Herrerias of the Atlantic City Police Department and Detective Fenil Gandhi of the Galloway Township Police Department.
“Those arrested during this operation were allegedly responsible for the distribution of heroin and other drugs in the Atlantic City area,” said Susan A. Gibson, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division. “Once again, the recovery of several handguns reinforces the premise that drugs and guns go hand-in-hand which leads to violence, and these arrests are proof of that which has made the community safer. DEA’s participation in the Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA Task Force reinforces our commitment to relentlessly pursue those who choose to bring drugs and violence to the streets of New Jersey.”
The arrests show how "invaluable" federal and local partnerships are, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said.
"Every gun we remove from the hands of criminals makes our neighborhoods safer," Tyner said. "I want to commend the efforts of all of the agencies involved in this investigation as we strive to reduce the violence that accompanies the illegal drug trade.”
Atlantic City's Interim Officer-in-Charge James Sarkos said, “This investigation is indicative of the cooperative effort between our law enforcement partners to combat criminal activity in Atlantic City.”
“The removal of multiple handguns and drugs from our streets makes our neighborhoods safer," he said. "The Atlantic City Police Department is committed to working with all of our law enforcement partners; this investigation is a great example of the fruits of those relationships.”
Arrested were James Mayes, 30, of Egg Harbor Township, along with Atlantic City residents Edwin Jones, 35; Whitley Molley, 32, and John Sessoms, 36.
All four were taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
Anyone with information about the distribution of narcotics is asked to call the Atlantic City Police Department Special Investigations Section at 609-347-5858. Information may also be texted anonymously via tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD.
