Township Man Snagged In Multi-Agency Narcotics Busts

A 22-year-old township man was among five people arrested on drug-related charges in an investigation that netted more than $21,000 worth of cocaine.

Jose Juan Lozada-Rojas of Home Street was arrested July 16 after he allegedly sold an undercover detective 60 grams of cocaine near Somerset Street, according to a release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

Lozada-Rojas’ arrest was the last made over the course of about a week in Hillsborough and the township, according to the release.

Also arrested were Jose Contreras, 19,  and Abimael Sanchez, 24, both of Hillsborough and Andy Martinez-Ramos, 37,  and Alex Marroquin, 29, both of New Brunswick.

Police said that on July 8, an undercover detective from the Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force met with Contreras near Marshall Road ion Hilsborough, where Contreras allegedly sold the detective one gram of cocaine.

The next day, according to the release, the detective met with Contreras at a shopping plaza on Route 206 in Hillsborough, where he again allegedly bought one frame of cocaine from Contreras.

At 9 p.m. on July 15, according to the release, Task Force detectives and members of the township police Crime Supporession Unit set up surveillance of an unnamed shopping plaza on Easton Avenue, after Contreras allegedly made arrangements with his supplier and an undercover detective to meet there.

The undercover detective arrived in his own car and parked near a fast food restaurant in the plaza. Contreras arrived in a Volkswagon Jetta driven by Sanchez, and was followed by an Acura containing Martinez-Ramos and Marroquin, according to the release.

Contreras left his car, went into the Acura and, a short time later, emerged holding an aluminum foil packet, according to the release.

Contreras then met with the undercover detective and allegedly sold him the 150 grams of cocaine that was in the package, according to the release.

Detectives then approached Contreras and, after a brief struggle, arrested him, according to the release. Martinez-Ramos and Mirraquin were removed from the Acura and were also placed under arrest without incident. Sanchez gave detectives voluntary consent to search his vehicle, which resulted in the seizure of two marijuana cigarettes, according to the release. Sanchez was arrested without incident.

Contreras was charged with 1st Degree Distribution of CDS (Cocaine), 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS (Cocaine), two counts of 3rd Degree Distribution of CDS (Cocaine) and Resisting Arrest, a Disorderly Persons Offense.

Martinez-Ramos and Mirraquin were each charged with 1st Degree Distribution of CDS (Cocaine) and 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS (Cocaine).

Sanchez was charged with Possession of Marijuana under 50 grams, a Disorderly Persons Offense.

Contreras, Martinez-Ramos and Mirraquin were remanded to the Somerset County Jail, Somerville.

Sanchez was lodged in the Somerset County Jail on $2,500 cash bail.

Lozada-Rojas was charged with 2nd Degree Distribution of CDS (Cocaine) and he was lodged in the Somerset County Jail on $100,000 cast bail.

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