Three men stand accused of running a drug mill that allegedly sold heroin and fentanyl stamped with "brands" linked to dozens of overdoses, including 84 deaths.
State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced the arrests Thursday. He estimated that the drug mill supplied 15,000 doses of fentanyl and heroin per day. The mill was run out of a luxury apartment on the 300 block of Somerset Street Harrison. Grewal said that it had been in operation for over a year.
Authorities say the operation was run by 45-year-old Timothy Guest, of Irvington, along with at least two associates, 27-year-old William Woodley, of Belleville, and 25-year-old Selionel Orama, of Cedar Grove.
Grewal said that when Guest was arrested, he was allegedly in possession of tens of thousands of doses of heroin and fentanyl, along with various drug paraphernalia. All three face numerous drug possession counts and a charge of maintaining a narcotics production facility.
Authorities say the mill has been linked to 227 overdoses. They say about 32,500 individual doses and four kilos of fentanyl and heroin have been seized. Grewal said that based on the amount of drugs seized, the risk to the public and those with an addiction problem is very high.
“We know that our state is home to far too many people struggling with the disease of addiction - people who are in desperate need for their next fix,” he said. “But we asked them that no matter what challenges you are facing in your life if come across heroin with any of the brands or logos…please stay away from it.”
The heroin confiscated in this bust was stamped with brand names like, “Tom Brady,” “Nyquil,” “Blue Magic,” “El Chapo” and “Fat Albert.”
A second location in Secaucus was also raided. Police said this was a stash house where Guest would store the money made from the operation. A Bentley, a Range Rover and $200,000 was confiscated at the location.
It wasn't known Thursday if the men had retained attorneys.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.