EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP man arrested after allegedly ordering half kilo of cocaine from Haiti

TRENTON – An Egg Harbor Township man was arrested Tuesday, Feb. 28 by members of the Atlantic City Task Force and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations on first-degree drug charges after they seized a half kilo of cocaine that was allegedly mailed to him and found 120 pounds of marijuana in a shed at his home, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said in a press release.

Jurggen Thomas, 23, was lodged in the Atlantic County jail after being arrested at his residence on West Jersey Avenue. He was charged with first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, first-degree possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine, third-degree possession of cocaine and third-degree possession of marijuana.

The arrest was the result of a joint investigation by the task force and the HIS Cherry Hill office.

The investigation began after Homeland Security Investigations intercepted a package containing a half kilo of cocaine that had been mailed from Haiti to an address in Egg Harbor Township via UPS. Law enforcement then coordinated a controlled delivery of the cocaine yesterday to the address, which turned out to be the home of a friend of Thomas’.

A second controlled delivery was subsequently conducted at Thomas’ home, where Thomas accepted the parcel and was arrested. A search of the residence yielded five bundles containing a total of 120 pounds of marijuana in a small shed in the backyard.

The ACTF includes the Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State Police, State Parole Board, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic City Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Little Egg Harbor Township Police, Brigantine Police and Pleasantville Police. The task force frequently partners with HSI Cherry Hill, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The first-degree drug charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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