Juan P. Lorenzo was indicted Monday on drug charges after police say they found a hidden stash in his SUV.
TRENTON -- A New York man was indicted Monday on drug charges after authorities say he was pulled over on the New Jersey Turnpike with a hidden stash of heroin and cocaine.
Juan P. Lorenzo, 36, faces charges of drug possession and possession with intent to distribute after the June 21 traffic stop near Carteret.
Authorities say State Police detectives spotted Lorenzo's Saturn SUV while conducting surveillance as part of a narcotics investigation. During a traffic stop, authorities claim, the man "behaved suspiciously and gave inconsistent answers about his itinerary," prompting police to request permission to search his vehicle.
During the search, police allegedly found a cache of heroin and cocaine, including 21 kilos of drugs stashed in a hidden compartment under the back seat, and more narcotics in a duffel bag and cooler in the back of the vehicle, according to the state Attorney General's Office.
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All told, authorities said they recovered 17 kilos of cocaine and 17 kilos of heroin from the scene.
Monday's indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson in Mercer County. An arraignment date has not yet been set.
Lorenzo is being held at the Middlesex County jail on $250,000 bail. His attorney could not be reached.
S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.