5 arrested after N.J. cops seize assault rifle, drugs, cash during multi-county raid

Five people were arrested after police seized drugs, an assault rifle and other weapons, and $6,500 cash during raids last week in Essex, Hudson and Union counties, authorities said Thursday.

The raids were the result of a four-month investigation and targeted people believed to be involved in the distribution of drugs, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II said in a statement.

Recovered were about 27 grams of heroin, 20 vials of cocaine and crack cocaine, 84 ecstasy pills, oxycodone, Xanax, along with drug packaging paraphernalia, Stephens said. The street value of the drugs is estimated to be about $7,000.

Also recovered in the raids were about $6,500 in cash, three handguns, one assault rifle, one silencer, one drum magazine, and two extended magazines, according to Stephens.

Two vehicles were also seized, one of which featured a concealed aftermarket compartment, commonly used to evade detection by law enforcement, Stephens said.

Four men and a woman, ages 44 to 55, were taken into custody on drug-related charges. One of the men also faces first-degree weapons charges, the prosecutor said.

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