Acting on a tip, authorities arrested the pair in a restaurant parking lot.
Bridgewater police and Somerset County law enforcement officials arrested a pair in a restaurant parking lot after receiving a tip. (File photo). SOMERSET -- A man and a woman were arrested Friday in connection with a narcotics investigation.
Andres Nazario, 47, of North Plainfield, and Amirah Thompson, 33, of Piscataway, were taken into custody on Sept. 11 by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, the prosecutor's office, Somerset County Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano and Bridgewater police Chief Manny Caravela said in a joint news release Monday.
On Friday, authorities were told that a man and woman in a red-colored SUV would be arriving at a Route 22 West restaurant and that they would be in possession of a quantity of cocaine, authorities said.
At 9 p.m., a surveillance team observed the pair arrive in a red Ford Edge SUV and park in the restaurant's parking lot, authorities said. Task Force members then approached the vehicle and advised the driver, Nazario and his passenger, Thompson, of the ongoing narcotics investigation, authorities said.
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"Apex," a drug-sniffing dog with the Somerset County Sheriff's Office, and his handler responded to the scene and the dog gave a positive indication for the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle, authorities said.
A search warrant for the vehicle was obtained and resulted in the seizure more than half an ounce of cocaine near the passenger side door, authorities said. A search of Thompson's purse revealed that she was in possession of Suboxone strips (under half an ounce), authorities said. Both defendants were arrested without incident, authorities said.
Nazario is being held at the Somerset County Jail on $150,000 cash-only bail. Thompson is being held at the jail on $100,000 cash-only bail.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com.Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
