Law enforcement arrested two Lower Township men Wednesday, Oct. 25, after customs and border agents tipped off the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office that they intercepted a package shipped from the Netherlands containing ecstasy.
According to a release from the prosecutor’s office, the agency received information from the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlantic City Office that Customs and Border Patrol agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport intercepted a package addressed to Jacob Groff, 31, of North Cape May, which they said contained ecstasy pills.
Law enforcement facilitated a controlled delivery of the package, Oct. 25.
On the same day, a multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency task force executed a search warrant on an Osprey Drive home in North Cape May, resulting in the arrest of the home’s residents, Groff and Craig Needles, 67. The pair was charged with various possession and distribution charges related to the search warrant.
According to the prosecutor’s office, law enforcement seized approximately two ounces of ecstasy, over one-half ounce of suspected methamphetamine, a .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun, drug paraphernalia including a digital scale, various prescription legend drugs, electronic equipment including computers, an iPad, cellphones and $4,081 in cash.
The prosecutor’s office said Groff and Needles were each charged with one count of second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of second-degree possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute MDMA (ecstasy); one count of second-degree possession of a firearm during the commission of a controlled dangerous substance offense; one count of third-degree possession of methamphetamine; one count of third-degree possession of MDMA; one count of third-degree money laundering; one count of fourth-degree possession with the intent to distribute drug paraphernalia; and one count of fourth-degree conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and MDMA.
Groff and Needles 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.
The investigation included the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Lower Township Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team.
Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said his office will continue to work hand in hand with federal and state partners along with the local municipalities to target anyone selling illegal controlled dangerous substances.
Sutherland urges 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.
Any charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
