Authorities seized $32,000 worth of heroin in Hamilton Township as the result of a joint investigation by the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, the FBI and local police departments.
The arrest of Edwin Vargas, 52, of Teaneck on Feb. 11 was the end result of a two-month probe into the distribution of fentanyl and heroin in Hamilton by the County and FBI. They were assisted in the operation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Ewing, Hamilton and Trenton police departments.
After receiving information that Vargas was transporting a large quantity of narcotics to Mercer County, officers established surveillance on him as he traveled into Hamilton Township in the area of the Woodrow Wilson Service Area.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., members of the MCNTF and the Hamilton Police Division stopped a Kia Telluride being driven by Vargas on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Vargas was detained without incident and the vehicle was secured pending execution of a search warrant.
Sgt. Tom Paglione utilized his K-9 partner, Indy, to conduct an interior “sniff” of the Kia Telluride. Indy gave a positive indication for narcotic odor on the center console of the vehicle and a search revealed a hydraulic trap containing approximately one kilogram of suspected heroin.
Vargas was charged with multiple first-degree narcotic offenses. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain him pending trial.
According to Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta Marbrey, the total street value of the confiscated heroin is $32,000.
