Dawn drug raids across north and central New Jersey resulted in several arrests, NJ Advance Media has learned.
NEWARK -- Dawn drug raids across north and central New Jersey resulted in several arrests, NJ Advance Media has learned.
The Thursday morning police raids were a part of a joint-investigation by multiple Essex County law enforcement agencies into a heroin distribution ring operating primarily in Newark's South Ward, a law enforcement source said.
Teams of officers, including New Jersey State Police SWAT teams, Essex County Prosecutor's Office officials and Newark police, participated in the execution of the search and arrest warrants, the source said.
On Thursday morning, several officers could be seen bursting through the doors of two separate Newark residences.
Officers appeared to take two suspects -- one male and one female -- into custody outside an apartment residence in the 100 block of Spruce Street in Newark.
At a similar raid at a home in the 100 block of Hobson Street, authorities led a male suspect wearing handcuffs into a waiting car while neighbors looked on.
In Rahway, investigators could be seen removing bags and boxes after a team of officers entered a town home in the 400 block of Hancock Street. Hours later, authorities led a man from the home in handcuffs.
Similar raids were conducted in Monmouth, Essex, and Bergen Counties, the source said.
The total number of those arrested in the takedown was not immediately made clear.
Staff writer Dan Ivers and staff photographer Andy Mills contributed to this report.
Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.