Passaic County law enforcement recently made a number of arrests in a drug sting.
The Passaic County Prosecutor s Office and the Paterson Police Department worked together on the operation, which was known as caveat emptor, a Latin phrase meaning buyer beware. This time, the buyer who needed to beware was anyone looking to purchase illegal drugs.
The police operation was precipitated by a rise in drug trafficking and distribution of illegal narcotics throughout Paterson, New Jersey.
According to authorities, the drug raid went down at 221 Broadway, with Passaic County Prosecutor s Office detectives and Paterson NJ police officers conducting surveillance on individuals who walked into a building, purchased illicit drugs, and then walked away.
Police officers reportedly saw as many as 50 people enter the building each hour. Police also said that they noticed drug dealers serving as lookouts; the dealers reportedly carried walkie-talkies with them.
Police arrested a total of 36 people. Most of the people who were placed under arrest during the sting operation are from Paterson, NJ.
One of the suspects is a 39-year-old Paterson NJ man who faces criminal charges for drug possession, illegal possession of a handgun, and a certain persons offense for being a felon in possession of a gun.
The majority of suspects who were arrested have been charged with remaining in a public place for the purpose of buying drugs.
Five suspects were charged with obstructing the administration of law.
For more information about this case, see the NJ.com article, “Paterson Drug Sweep Targets Buyers.”
