250 pounds of pot headed for Clifton seized in Paramus

Police arrested two people in connection with the drug shipment.

PARAMUS -- Police on Thursday seized $750,000 worth of marijuana being transported though Bergen County.

Vimal Lingisetty, 30, of Nanuet, N.Y. (Passaic County Sheriff's Office) 

The Passaic County Sheriff's Office and New Jersey State Police were investigating information that someone was receiving a large shipment of marijuana at a storage facility in Clifton, Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik said.

Detectives identified the box truck being used for the delivery and its driver, Pedram Bousheri, on Thursday, Berdnik said. They began watching the truck in Bergen County.

As they tracked the truck, they noticed a Mercedez-Benz SUV traveling with the truck. The SUV began weaving in and out of traffic while on Route 17 in Paramus.

Detectives stopped truck and SUV on Route 17. As they approached the SUV, driver Vimal Lingisetty, of Nanuet, N.Y., appeared to be moving something under his shirt, Berdnik said.

Detectives ordered Lingisetty to show his hands but they were empty, police said. They forced the 30-year-old out of the vehicle.

A cell phone fell to the ground, Berdnik said. Lingisetty continued to resist even after being handcuffed, Berdnik said.

With help from other detectives, Lingisetty was arrested.

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The Mercedes and box truck were taken to Passaic County Sheriff's Headquarters in Wayne. Detectives got a search warrant for both vehicles.

They found three wooden crates in the box truck. They contained three vintage vending machines, which hid nearly 250 pounds of marijuana and 88 vials of liquid THC, Berdnik said.

The drugs are worth about $750,000, Berdnik said.

Bousheri, 34, of Wellington, Fla., was charged with possession of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute. Police charged Lingisetty with eluding, resisting and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Bail was set at $250,000 for Bousheri and $350,000 for Lingisetty.