Police: Somerset Man Among Two Nabbed In $80,000 Drug Bust

Eric Smith.
Photo: Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office

Two men – including one from Somerset – were arrested May 21 on drug-related charges after they were found with more than $80,000 in illegal narcotics, police said.

Eric Smith, 26, of Hamilton Street and Andrew Rupnarain, 23, of East Brunswick were nabbed by members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force and the Franklin Township Police Department’s Crime Suppression Unit, according to a release from the prosecutor’s office.

The Task Force and Crime Suppression Unit set up surveillance of Smith’s home after the Task Force received a tip that Smith would be leaving his home on May 21 with a quantity of “Molly,” according to the release.

At abut 6:25 p.m., a man later identified as Rupnarain arrive at Smith’s house in a white Toyota Camry, the release said. Rupnarain went into Smith’s house stayed a while and then left in his car, the release said.

A short time later, the release said, Smith also left his house and entered a white Ford box truck driven by a third person.

Task Force members stopped the Camry near Hamilton Street, the release said. Detetcives saw Rupnarain trying to remove something from the front pocket of his jeans. He was told to show his hands and leave the car, the release said.

Police saw a plastic bag sticking out of Rupnarain’s pocket as he exited his car, the release said. The bag was later found to contain about 100 grams of “Molly,” police said.

Andrew Rupnarain.
Photo: Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office

Police also stopped the white truck in which Smith was riding, according to the release. Police said Smith was advised of the investigation, and the driver consented to having the truck searched, while Smith consented to a body search and a search of his home.

Detectives found in the box truck a bag containing about 500 grams of “Molly,” the release said. A search of Smith’s home resulted in the seizure of another bag containing about 400 grams of “Molly,” a smaller bag containing three grams of “Molly,” a bag containing about a half-pound of marijuana and another bag containing about quarter-pound of marijuana, and $5,130 in cash, police said.

Smith was charged with 2nd Degree Possession of a CDS (methylenedioxymethcathinone, or “Molly”) and 3rd Degree Possession of a CDS (marijuana) with Intent to Distribute, police said.

Rupnarain was charged with 2nd Degree Possession of CDS (Molly) with Intent to Distribute, police said.

Police said the “Molly” seized from Smith has a street value of about $72,000, and the marijuana seized from him has a street value of approximately $2,000. The “Molly” seized from Rupnarain has a street value of about $7,000, police said.

The two were remanded to Somerset County Jail, Somerville, pending a bail hearing, police said.

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