COURT HOUSE – Police arrested two men, including a Court House man, and charged them with distribution of about 800 bags of heroin and over a half-ounce of cocaine, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland announced.
In a prosecutor’s press release, Sutherland, Lower Township Police Chief Kevin Lewis, and Middle Township Police Chief Jennifer Pooler reported the arrest of Michael Morales, 31, of Court House, and Nelson Otero, 31, of Heislerville, for the distribution of controlled dangerous substances (CDS).
The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Task Force concluded a cooperative narcotics investigation, Aug. 29, into the distribution of heroin and cocaine after a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement task force executed search warrants on the residences and vehicles belonging to Morales and Otero.
Law enforcement seized, in addition to the approximately 800 bags of heroin and about a half-ounce of suspected cocaine, trenbolone acetate, testosterone cypionate, packaging materials, multiple digital scales, and more than $13,000. Police also seized two shotguns from Otero’s residence.
Sutherland said an analysis of the suspected heroin conducted by the Cape May County Forensic Laboratory was positive for fentanyl, xylazine, and amitraz. The combination of these chemicals increases the psychotropic effects of the heroin substance and contributes to it being less receptive to Narcan and causes necrosis in the human body, Sutherland said.
Morales and Otero were each charged with two counts of second-degree distribution of CDS, one count of second-degree conspiracy to distribute CDS, four counts of third-degree possession of CDS, one count of third-degree money laundering, and one count of fourth-degree distribution of drug paraphernalia.
Weapons charges are also pending for Otero.
Morales and Otero were lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Facility pending court proceedings. Individuals convicted of second-degree crimes are subject to a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years in New Jersey state prison.
Agencies involved in the investigation and arrests include the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Task Force; Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Task Force; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Middle Township Police Department; Lower Township Police Department; Cape May County Regional SWAT Team; Cape May County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit; and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit.
Sutherland also continues to urge the citizens of Cape May County to report any information regarding illegal drug activity or any criminal activity within the community, and that information can be reported to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135, or anonymously on the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office website at cmcpo.tips, or through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or to the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-889-3597.
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