Authorities say the operation imported 25,000 bags of heroin weekly into Ocean County
TOMS RIVER -- Authorities in Ocean County say they dismantled a drug ring that imported 25,000 bags of heroin weekly and also distributed prescription painkillers.
The several-month investigation unfolded in three phases as investigators from the county and from several local police departments first rounded up the alleged low-level drug dealers and then worked their way up to apprehending the alleged head of the ring, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said on Tuesday.
As investigators conducted their raids on three separate days at 16 locations in May and June, they arrested 26 people and seized two cars, two guns, 9,000 bags of heroin, nearly $50,000 in cash, along with quantities of marijuana, cocaine and prescription pain medication, Coronato said.
The leader of the organization was identified as Melvin "Money" Vankpana, 23, of Lakewood and Neptune, who authorities say managed and directed the heroin distribution network in Ocean County.
Vankpana was arrested June 2 at his Waverly Avenue apartment in Neptune in the last phase of the operation when investigators raided nine houses in Toms River, Lakewood, Brick, Jackson and Neptune, the prosecutor said.
In this last phase, dubbed "Operation MVP," police seized approximately 8,000 individual doses of heroin along with quantities of prescription pills, cocaine and marijuana, an AR-15 assault rifle, a Ruger semi-automatic pistol and about $40,000, Coronato said.
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Arrested along with Vankpana were Luis "Chino" Rodriguez; 26; Altariq Montgomery, 22; Candido "GU" and "Gorilla" Jackson, 28; Marcus Jones, 40; and Tarell "Ruger" Jones, 26; all of Lakewood.
Also arrested on June 2 were Mathew Green Jr., 27, of Jackson and Kashawn Cotte, 24, of Brick, police said.
Police also arrested Quaoirah Vaughn/Rodriguez, 23; Nyshawne Sutton, 35; and Erika Ortiz, 24, all of Lakewood; Jerron Evans, 33; William Davis, 20; and Samora Burgess, 28; of Toms River; Timothy Moore, 20, and Aniya Lynn, 25, Jackson; Nakayla Adams, 25, of the Morganville section of Marlboro; Yahnie Patterson, 28, who is incarcerated.
The second phase of the operation--conducted by the Northern Enforcement Unit of the prosecutor's Special Operations Group and Seaside Heights police - involved a month-long undercover investigation that that resulted in the arrest of two people on charges of selling prescription pain medication.
On May 26 around 12:55 p.m., police raided a Blaine Avenue apartment in Seaside Heights where they seized Oxycodone and "Wax," a derivative of marijuana plants and smoked in pipes. There, police also found drug paraphernalia and about $2,350, Coronato said.
Arrested were Kelly Borden, 46, and Thomas Melvin, 21, authorities said.
In the first phase, conducted over two months, police raided five homes in South Toms River and the Manitou Park section of Berkeley Township and arrested six people on May 25, Coronato said.
With those raids, investigators seized nearly 1,000 bags of heroin, a quantity of marijuana, assorted drug paraphernalia and approximately $6000 in cash, the prosecutor said.
Charged were Tashema Cotman, 38; Amanda Pomeroy, 27; Shaquonda Dorsey, 37; Hakim Singleton, 38; and Rachael Cole, 27, all of South Toms River, and Jabbar Graham, 38, of Berkeley Township.
Still at large are Jameer Jones, 22; Dasean Donaldson, 20; and Dajun Morris, 23, all of Lakewood.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these people are asked to contact the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office's Special Operations Group at 732-341-6150 or 732-929-2027.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.