State Police and local authorities carried out coordinated raids early Saturday
A photo showing drugs, ammunition, a gun and other items seized in a raid early Oct. 29, 2016 IRVINGTON -- Police shut down an Irvington-based drug distribution network early Saturday in raids that netted more than $300,000 worth of cocaine, heroin and other narcotics, along with a stolen luxury car, a gun and ammunition, officials said.
The ring was responsible for distributing narcotics in Irvington, Newark and North Plainfield for months, according to Irvington Public Safety Directory Tracy Bowers.
Members of two Irvington police units -- the Threat Assessment Criminal Intelligence Team (TACIT) and Special Enforcement Response Team (SERT) -- along with troopers from the State Police tactical unit were credited with bringing the arrests in coordinated raids following a two-month probe.
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In all, Bowers said police seized 1,790 grams of cocaine, 1,820 grams of raw heroin, more than 2,500 small envelopes of heroin in bundles, three grams of marijuana, ecstasy tablets, drug packaging materials, a loaded .9mm handgun, large capacity magazines, rounds of ammunition and $12,000.
Authorities also recovered a stolen 2016 Mercedes-Benz Maybach, valued at $166,000, and a 2014 BMW, according to Bowers. Police made five arrests, but details on the charges were not immediately available.
Officials have credited the SERT and TACIT units with helping to bring down violence in the township, where police reported a sharp drop in shootings and homicides this year.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.