Cocaine, Uzi-Style Submachine Gun Seized In Lakewood Bust, Prosecutor Says

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A Lakewood man is being held on cocaine distribution and weapons charges after authorities seized cocaine, an Uzi-style rifle and handguns as part of a drug investigation, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday.

Freemon E. Watts, 46, was identified by the monthlong investigation as a large-scale cocaine distributor in the Ocean County area, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

He was arrested May 27 as detectives pulled him over when he left his workplace, the prosecutor's office said. Detectives then executed search warrants at his home, a home in Neptune that authorities said was associated with the distribution operation and a storage unit in Toms River, the prosecutor's office said.

During the searches authorities seized about 400 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia associated with narcotics distribution, a suspected Uzi-style sub-machine gun, two handguns with large capacity ammunition magazines, and approximately $14,000 in cash, authorities said.

Watts has been charged with possession of 5 ounces or more of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm during a controlled dangerous substance offense, being a certain person not to possess a weapon, possession of a large-capacity ammunition magazine, and financial facilitation.

He is being held at the Ocean County Jail, where he has been detained since May 28.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Asset Forfeiture Unit, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force-Red Bank, Lakewood police, Toms River police, Manchester police and Neptune police collaborated in the investigation.