2 Manalapan Men Charged In Major Drug Operation
MANALAPAN, NJ — Two Manalapan residents men charged as a result of a major drug operation into high-level cocaine distribution in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, as well as New York City, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
Dubbed operation checkmate, it led to the arrest of 24 people, 24 search warrants and the seizure of more than four kilograms of cocaine, over 15 pounds of marijuana, in excess of $650,000, seven firearms, ten vehicles and other illegal narcotics.
Dale McCord, 44, of Manalapan, was charged with possession of cocaine in an amount greater than five ounces with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute cocaine in an amount greater than one-half ounce, possession of cocaine, possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to distribute, possession of psilocybin mushrooms, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a weapon during controlled dangerous substance activity, certain person not to possess a firearm, three counts of possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine and two counts of financial facilitation.
Mark Kelber, 44, also from Manalapan, charged with possession of cocaine in an amount greater than five ounces with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute cocaine in an amount greater than one-half ounce, possession of Cocaine, possession of marijuana with ontent to distribute, two counts of possession of marijuana, possession of oxandrolone, possession of trenbolone, possession of drostanalone, possession of mesternolone, possession of drug paraphernalia and certain person not to possess a firearm.
McCord and Kelber are both currently being lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
The multi-agency investigation was four months long and involved the United States Drug Enforcement Administration – High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Group 5, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and New Jersey State Police - Trafficking Central Unit, as well as many other state, county and local law enforcement agencies.
Around 50 additional law enforcement personnel were assigned to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force on a full-time basis.
“An investigation of this magnitude requires the cooperation of numerous law enforcement agencies and officers," Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. "Law enforcement officers at the local, county, state, and federal levels demonstrated outstanding teamwork in connection with this very wide-ranging, comprehensive investigation. This team of professionals literally worked around the clock for the last several months with a singular goal in mind: removing dangerous drug dealers from our streets."
The investigation used "sophisticated surveillance methods and undercover operatives," officials also said.
The three cocaine networks were responsible for the import of more than three kilograms of cocaine per week into the Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex County areas.
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