A Rio Grande resident was arrested on Friday, Feb. 23, and charged with possessing and intending to distribute 2,100 bags of suspected heroin.
Kelvin Claudio, 35, was arrested after a search warrant was executed at multiple locations throughout Middle Township according to a joint press release issued by Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Middle Township Police Chief Jennifer Pooler.
Police seized the 2,100 bags of suspected heroin and $1,373 in cash. Sutherland said in the release that suspected heroin previously seized during this investigation was analyzed by the Cape May County Forensic Laboratory and tested positive for fentanyl and xylazine.
The combination of these chemicals increases the psychotropic effects of the heroin, contributes to its being less receptive to Narcan and causes necrosis in the human body, Sutherland said.
Claudio was arrested as part of a cooperative narcotics investigation conducted by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office’s Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Task Force with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Cape May County Regional SWAT Team, Cape May County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit and Middle Township Police Department Major Crimes Unit.
He was charged with one count of second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, one count of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and one count of third-degree money laundering.
Claudio was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Facility pending court proceedings. Individuals convicted of second-degree crimes are subject to a prison term of five to 10 years.
Sutherland urged 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 Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135, anonymously on the Prosecutor’s Office website at cmcpo.tips, through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net (click on anonymous tip), or to the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-889-3597.
