2006 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
JAMES P. LYNCH, ACTING CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA INFORMATION

June 19, 2006

Acting Camden County Prosecutor James P. Lynch, New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes and Camden Police Executive Robert L. Stewart reported that narcotics officers arrested 39 people accused of trying to buy illegal drugs today in Camden, N.J.

The operation was conducted by the Joint Camden Task Force of the Philadelphia-Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDTA) Area Task Force. HIDTA includes the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, Camden Police, N.J. State Police Metro South Unit, New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Camden County Sheriff’s Department, FBI, DEA and the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Officers from the Gloucester Township Police Department also participated.

Today’s operation, known as a reversal, involved undercover officers posing as drug dealers in the area of 5th and Grant streets in the city’s North Camden section. The arrests were made between approximately 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Those arrested were charged with Loitering with the Purpose of Obtaining Drugs, a Disorderly Persons charge punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000 upon conviction. The arrestees were released pending hearing dates in Camden Municipal Court. They are accused of trying to purchase heroin and/or crack cocaine.

Of the 39 people arrested, 30, or 77 percent, live outside the city of Camden, while nine, or 23 percent, live in the city.

“Remarkably, even the most recent heroin-related fatalities have not stopped people from coming to Camden to buy drugs,” Lynch stated. “We sincerely hope that operations like today’s will deter users and save lives.”

All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.