18 Charged in ‘Record breaking’ NJ Drug Bust Involving 19 Law Enforcement Agencies

18 people have been charged in a massive, record-breaking South Jersey drug investigation that involved nearly the same number of law enforcement agencies.

The Salem County Prosecutor's Office says over the course of a two-month-long investigation, authorities were able to connect cocaine suppliers from Puerto Rico to distributors in Salem and Mt. Holly, who then allegedly distributed that cocaine along the East Coast from New Jersey to Massachusetts.

Record Seizure and Disruption of Cocaine Supply Chain

Officials said,

A record breaking seizure of narcotics for Salem County, these arrests confirm the disruption of the primary supply chain of cocaine through Salem County and Salem City.

• READ MORE: 2 Arrested Following Shootout Near 2-year-old in Burlington County

18 Charged in South Jersey

Charged with narcotics and related offenses as a result of the investigation are the following:

• Ramon R. Bentley, Jr., 48, of Salem, NJ
• Diego J. Cruz-Corchado, 28, of Isabela, Puerto Rico
• Gabriel J. Lopez, 28, of Mount Holly
• Abner Martinez-Barreto, 28, of Isabela, Puerto Rico
• Carlos Lebron, 51, of Isabela, Puerto Rico
• David E. Jackson, 47, of Salem
• Timothy A. Taylor, 46, of Salem
• Robert P. Thomas, 74, of Pennsville
• Michael A. Washington, 65, of Salem
• Khalid A. Roots, 37, of Salem
• Kevin M. Turner, 41, of Salem
• Lawrence A. Moore, 34, of Salem
• Carlos R. Vasquez, 24, of Mount Holly
• Angel L. Rivera-Gonzalez, 29, of Williamantic, CT
• Adrianna I. Piserchia, 21, of Mount Holly
• Tanisha Badillo-Vazquez, 26, of Mount Holly
• Meraris Z. Lopez-Adorno, 25, of Mount Holly
• Belgica Marroquin, 31, of Trenton

• READ MORE: Baltimore Man Killed in Crash on Route 47 in Middle Twp.

NJ Law Enforcement Agencies Involved

Authorities in Salem County were quick to thank the numerous law enforcement agencies that worked on this case, saying, "This investigation was possible only as a result of the innovative policing, hard work, tireless support and intelligence provided with the cooperation and overwhelming assistance..." of the following groups:

• FBI
• HSI
• USPS
• U.S. Marshals Service
• New Jersey State Police
• Burlington County Prosecutor's Office
• Camden County Prosecutor's Office
• Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office
• Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office
• Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office
• Salem County Sheriff’s Office
• Mercer County Sheriff’s Office T.R.T.
• Camden County Sheriff’s Office S.E.R.T.
• Carneys Point Police Department
• Penns Grove Police Department
• Pennsville Police Department
• Salem City Police Department
• Vineland Police Department
• Willingboro Police Department

How to Help Police

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Inv. Jonathan Hart at (856) 935-7510.

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