A 65-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested on Tuesday for possessing 17,000 fentanyl pills during a traffic stop in Guttenberg, according to Police Chief Frank Pelaez.
On Tuesday, July 22nd, at approximately 12:17 p.m., detectives from the Guttenberg Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit were near John F. Kennedy Boulevard East and 69th Street when they observed a 2018 white Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross making an improper U-Turn in the middle of the intersection, according to Pelaez.
After noticing the Title 39 violations, the investigators stopped the white Mitsubishi.
Detectives approached the vehicle’s male driver, identified as Luis A. Valerio-Vargas, 65, of Allentown, Pennsylvania. During the stop, the driver explained that he had done a U-turn to find a parking space.
He told the detectives that he works in plumbing and construction and had driven from Pennsylvania to pick up a person near the Galaxy Towers and transport him to a job site.
Valerio-Vargas then stated that he planned to travel to the region of 98th Street and Bergenline Avenue, near a park, and pointed south towards the Town of West New York.
During the on-scene investigation, detectives asked that a narcotics K-9 from the North Bergen Police Department respond to the area of the motor vehicle stop.
Shortly later, North Bergen Police Department K-9 Rex and his handler arrived to conduct a free-air sniff of the vehicle. K-9 Rex indicated the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.
The investigation revealed that Valerio-Vargas possessed roughly 17,000 circular-shaped blue pills suspected of containing fentanyl. He was arrested and transported to the Guttenberg Police Department for processing.
Valerio-Vargas was charged with manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing a Schedule I or II controlled dangerous substance (CDS), distributing a CDS within 500 feet of public property, selling counterfeit drugs, distributing a CDS within 1,000 feet of school property, possessing a CDS, and possessing drug paraphernalia.
He also received four traffic summonses for careless driving, making an incorrect U-turn, failing to indicate a turn, and possessing a CDS in a motor vehicle.
Valerio-Vargas was remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Center while awaiting his initial appearance in Hudson County Superior Court in Jersey City.
“I’d like to commend the Criminal Investigation Unit detectives on their diligence, dedication, and professionalism, as well as their proactive approach to policing.” These detectives effectively captured a serious threat to our community by preventing 17,000 tablets suspected of containing fentanyl from entering our streets. “This action has the potential to save hundreds of innocent lives,” Pelaez said.
“I can’t thank these detectives enough for their dedication and hard work every day. I will continue to ensure that the Guttenberg Police Department takes proactive measures to keep our residents safe. I’d also like to thank North Bergen Police Chief Robert J. Farley Jr. and his K-9 Unit for their support and assistance during this incident.”
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