Massive NJ Drug Bust: 5 Facing Charges, Police Seize Nearly $550K

Five people are facing numerous drug-related charges after nearly a dozen different law enforcement agencies and units worked together to execute a massive drug bust.

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Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer's office says a "cooperative, multi-agency investigation identified a residence in South Toms River and a residence in Brick Township, as being utilized by Octavaeous Jenkins, 49, to store and distribute cocaine. Additionally, the investigation identified a residence in Long Branch, as being utilized by Ralph Durand, 56, Krystal Villano, 36, Emily Durand, 53 and Jaiden Durand, 18, to store and distribute cocaine."

According to authorities, here's how it played out.

On May 9, 2023, detectives observed Jenkins meeting with Durand in Monmouth County.

Jenkins and Durand were detained and found to be in possession of approximately one kilogram of cocaine. Jenkins and Durand were then placed under arrest.

Multiple search warrants were then executed on all of the subject residences. From all three homes, law enforcement seized approximately 1.25 kilograms of cocaine, $56,000 cash, twenty grams of crack cocaine, and fifty dosage units of heroin.

Emily Durand, Jaiden Durand, and Krystal Villano were placed under arrest at a home in Long Branch.

Additionally, detectives seized approximately seized $488,522 in personal banking accounts belonging to Ralph Durand and Krystal Villano, believed to be related to their narcotics distribution network.

All five people are now facing numerous financial and drug-related charges.

Billhimer credited the cooperative work of the following law enforcement agencies with the arrests in this case:

Ocean County Prosecutor's Office's Narcotics Strike Force and Asset Forfeiture Unit
U.S. DEA-High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Group 5
Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force
Lakewood Township Police Department and its Street Crimes and K-9 Units
South Toms River Police Department and its K-9 Unit
Brick Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit
Eatontown Police Department
Howell Township Police Department K-9 Unit
City of Long Branch Police Department Street Crimes Unit
Ocean County Sheriff’s Office

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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