On Thursday, February 22, 2024, three individuals were arrested in North Bergen following an investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations Newark, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. During the course of the investigation, over 5 kilograms of suspected MDMA/ketamine with a street value of over $500,000, and a handgun were recovered.
Mauricio Hurtado, 42, of Secaucus, Jose Restrepo, 57, of North Bergen, and Carlos Florez, 49, of Bloomingdale, are charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute (MDMA) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(1); Possession with the Intent to Distribute (ketamine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(13)/2C:35-5a(1); Conspiracy to Distribute (MDMA) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(1) and 2C:5-2; and Conspiracy to Distribute (ketamine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(13)/2C:35-5a(1) and 2C:5-2. They were arrested in the area of 91st Street and Bergenwood Avenue.
Following the arrests, a court-authorized search warrant was conducted of Hurtado’s Secaucus apartment on Friday, February 23, 2024. A handgun, over $100,000 in cash, suspected proceeds from narcotics transactions, and narcotics were seized. Hurtado was additionally charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute (MDMA) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1)/2C:35-5b(1); Possession with the Intent to Distribute (ketamine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(13)/2C:35-5a(1); Possession of a Firearm While Committing a CDS Offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); Money Laundering in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with the Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-3.
The recovered narcotics are described as a pink and bright yellow substances most commonly used for recreational purposes and known for its hallucinogenic effects.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the HCPO Narcotics Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, and the United States Postal Inspection Service with the investigation and arrests, with assistance from the Secaucus Police Department and the North Bergen Police Department. The above charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).
