United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK – Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division, New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, New York State Police Acting Superintendent Keith M. Corlett and Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrests of Frankly Sanchez-Javier; Raidy Rosa-Garcia; Mario Tapia-Hernandez on charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely heroin; maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility; and possession of drug paraphernalia; Luis Otero on a charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely cocaine; and money laundering; and Nicole Bonilla on a charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely heroin.  These arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, Group T-22 and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.  

For the past several months, agents, detectives and investigators from the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task force, Group T-22 and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office conducted an investigation involving Luis Otero, Frankley Sanchez-Javier, Mario Tapia-Hernandez, and Raidy Rosa-Garcia, who were determined to be involved in the distribution of controlled dangerous substances within Bergen County, New Jersey.  During this investigation, on Jan. 30, 2019, court authorized search warrants were executed at the following locations:  55 Railroad Avenue, Apt. B2, Hackensack and 113 Lodi Street, basement, Hackensack, which are both Tapia-Hernandez’ residences; 240 Prospect Avenue, Apt. 505, Hackensack, where Otero resides; 32 Kipp Avenue, basement, Lodi, where Rosa-Garcia resides; and 232 Midland Avenue, Apt. 3, Garfield, where Sanchez-Javier resides.  Additionally, a court authorized search warrant was executed at 232 Midland Avenue, First Floor Apartment, Garfield, NJ, which was identified as a heroin mill being used to process and package heroin for resale.

The Bergen County Regional SWAT assisted with the execution of search warrants in Garfield, Lodi and at 240 Prospect Avenue, Apt. 505, Hackensack.  Law enforcement officers encountered Sanchez-Javier, Tapia-Hernandez and Rosa-Garcia at 232 Midland Avenue, First Floor, Garfield, NJ.  All three individuals attempted to flee, including Sanchez-Javier who jumped through a first floor glass pane window before being apprehended outside.  This location was a vacant apartment with a heroin mill located in one of the bedrooms.  In addition to a number of items which are associated with heroin packaging and distribution, officers seized approximately three and one-half pounds of packaged heroin and fifty grams of unpackaged heroin.

Officers arrested Nicole Bonilla during the search of 32 Kipp Avenue, Basement, Lodi, NJ.  They also seized approximately three and one-half pounds of packaged heroin, one hundred fifty grams of unpackaged heroin, and approximately $3,000.00.  Bonilla was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely heroin, in an amount greater than one-half ounce but less than five ounces, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5B(2), a 2nd degree crime.  Bonilla was released on a summons and is scheduled for a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, at 8:30 a.m.  

Luis Otero was arrested at 240 Prospect Avenue, Apt. 505, Hackensack.  Officers also seized approximately 1,300 grams of cocaine and $137,000.00.  Otero was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely cocaine, in the amount greater than five ounces, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5B (1), a 1st degree crime.  Otero was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing in Hackensack on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.

Mario Tapia-Hernandez, Sanchez-Javier and Rosa-Garcia were charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely heroin, in an amount greater than five ounces, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5B(1), a 1st degree crime, one count of maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-4, a 1st degree crime, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia related to the distribution of controlled dangerous substance, N.J.S.A. 2C:36-3, a 3rd degree crime.  Tapia-Hernandez, Sanchez-Javier, and Rosa-Garcia were remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing in Hackensack on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.

Acting Prosecutor Dennis Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would like to thank the Hackensack, Garfield, and Lodi Police Departments, the New Jersey State Police HAZMAT, the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, Group T-22, Homeland Security Investigations Newark and JFK, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bergen County Regional SWAT for their assistance in this investigation. The New York Drug Enforcement Task Force comprises agents, detectives and investigators of the DEA, NYSP and NYPD.