According to an announcement made by Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, a significant amount of illegal items were confiscated during a recent investigation. The detectives involved in the case were able to seize over 10,000 vials of cocaine, along with several hundred grams of the illicit substance. In addition to the drugs, they also discovered $17,600 in cash and a handgun equipped with an extended magazine. As a result of these findings, charges were filed against two individuals: Edwin Medina, 32, and his mother, Sandra Almodovar, 51, both of Newark.
According to Stephens, the ECPO Narcotics Task Force detectives conducted a series of early morning raids in Newark and Bloomfield, seizing over a kilo of suspected cocaine.
After obtaining court authorized search warrants for four locations in north Newark and an apartment in Bloomfield, detectives were able to execute the warrants with the help of the Newark Police SWAT Team, the Essex County Sheriff’s Tactical Response Team, and the Bloomfield Police Emergency Response Team. During the operation, the detectives successfully recovered the following items, according to the prosecutor:
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- Approximately 10,400 vials of cocaine-packaged for distribution
- An additional 640 grams of unpackaged cocaine
- A 9-millimeter handgun with an extended magazine
- Approximately $17,600 in cash
- Three motor vehicles
- Several pieces of high-end jewelry.
Medina and Almodovar faced serious charges including first degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, possession of a handgun while committing a narcotics offense, and several other narcotics offenses.
