A major drug operation was busted in Newark.
A total of 30 people are being charged after a police raid conducted by the DEA and FBI.
The operation and arrests were announced today by Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. She says those arrested were primarily Bloods gang members who are dealing in fentanyl and crack cocaine.
Haba says the operation was run from the Kretchmer Elderly complex off Frelinghuysen Road in Newark.
The raid was at 6:30 a.m. and conducted by the FBI, DEA and ATF.
Agents had photos and names of the 30 people wanted for dealing in fentanyl, termed by the U.S. attorney as the leading cause of death in overdoses.
“I would like to remind everybody that just 2 milligrams of fentanyl is considered a deadly dose. That is the tip of a pencil,” said Habba.
In all, police recovered 7,000 grams of fentanyl and heroin, which DEA officials noted is enough to kill 500,000 people.
Investigators said those arrested had been dealing mainly in the area of Newark.
The bust was made with the help of undercover police work and wiretaps over several months. U.S. Attorney Habba says investigators conducted hundreds of hours of surveillance.
Those charged could face a term of 10 years in prison if convicted.