Authorities seize 21 kilos of heroin in North Jersey bust

The ring operated in Bergen and Hudson counties, authorities said

BERGEN COUNTY -- Authorities Friday arrested two men accused of running a heroin ring in Bergen and Hudson counties, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said in a statement.

Authorities launched an investigation in September after learning that a suspect was in possession of a large quantity of the fentanyl, a potent opioid used as a painkiller. Authorities also learned the same person was awaiting a shipment of heroin, Grewal said.

Authorities later learned that Juan Garcia Martinez, 46, of Palisades Park, and 47-year-old Rafael Garcia Reyes of Bayonne were distributing heroin from locations in Palisades Park, Bayonne and West New York, Grewal said. 

Search warrants were executed Friday at the locations, with police finding 20 kilograms of heroin, a heroin press and other drug paraphernalia, including a money-counter and packaging materials.

Garcia-Martinez and Garcia-Reyes were each charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. They were each being held on $250,000 bail at the Bergen County Jail. They are scheduled to appear in court Nov. 9.

The joint investigation was carried out by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Bayonne, West New York and Palisades Park police departments.