New Jersey police bust narcotics ring in “Operation City Wide”

Law enforcement officials describe a complex drug trafficking operation that was supplying tens of thousands of dollars worth of drugs each week. They allege that the narcotics distribution ring was lead by two men, an uncle and nephew that were arrested on Wednesday. In addition to the suspected ‘ring leaders’ eight other men were arrested and five additional suspects are still being sought. All fifteen of the suspects face charges of first degree racketeering in addition to the drug charges.

The police say that below the two leaders the criminal enterprise had numerous individuals who served as middle level managers known as ‘set managers’ who would oversee the day to day operations. Below these set managers were the street level ‘trappers’ who interacted on the street level directly with the purchasers. In addition there were a group of runners who would resupply the trappers and deliver proceeds the set managers. The operation supposedly had up to five of these sets, organized under the leaders, and also supplied drugs on a wholesale basis to other operations in the Camden area.

The investigation, dubbed “Operation City Wide,” was a collaborative effort between the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, the New Jersey Department of Corrections, New Jersey State Police, the National Guard, and local and county law enforcement agencies. This is the first major drug bust in Camden since heavy cuts to staffing levels of the police force.

Source: The Gloucester County Times ‘15 face drug charges in Camden in ‘Operation City Wide‘ February 23, 2011