A Bronx NY man was caught allegedly carrying a large stash of heroin while driving his vehicle in Paterson NJ.
According to the Passaic County sheriff, police received a tip from a concerned citizen alleging that 29-year-old Emmanuel Valdez was trafficking heroin out of Paterson.
Following up on this information, DEA agents and Passaic County police tracked Mr. Valdez to Paterson, New Jersey. Officers pulled over Mr. Valdez’s vehicle in the MicroCenter parking lot on McLean Boulevard.
When officers searched Mr. Valdez’s car, they found a blue backpack containing 210 bricks of heroin valued at approximately $450,000.00.
Mr. Valdez was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, in addition to other related charges.
According to police, Mr. Valdez was also wanted by the New York City Police Department for allegedly distributing cocaine.
In New Jersey, distribution of heroin is a very serious offense. The criminal charge for distribution of heroin is set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5. The penalties for heroin distribution vary, depending on the amount of heroin. Here, Mr. Valdez is likely to face first degree heroin distribution charges. If convicted, Mr. Valdez could be sentenced to as many as 20 years in New Jersey State Prison.
For more information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Fugitive from the Bronx Caught with $450K in Heroin in Paterson.”
