Drugs, Cash, Weapon Seized In Mercer Co. Bust On  Business, Home

MERCER, NJ — Four men were charged after a four-month narcotics trafficking investigation led to the execution of search warrants on a Greenwood Avenue residence, an East State Street business and a vehicle on Aug. 3, the Hamilton Police Division said.

The Hamilton Police Anti-Crime Unit, the Hamilton Police SWAT Unit and the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office K-9 Unit carried out the search warrants at approximately 2 p.m. on the 1500 block of Greenwood Avenue, the 1600 block of East State Street and a Jeep Grand Cherokee, according to police.

Officers recovered an imitation firearm, ammunition, suspected cocaine, crack cocaine, chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride pills and alprazolam pills, police said. Also seized were cigarettes soaked in suspected PCP, numerous empty wax folds and plastic vials, drug paraphernalia and $2,483 in cash.

Kevin Blue was arrested following a motor vehicle stop of the Jeep Grand Cherokee he was operating, police said. Phillip Young and Charles Jackson were located inside the Greenwood Avenue residence and placed under arrest. Lawrence McCray was located at the East State Street business and placed under arrest.

Blue, Young and Jackson were each charged with maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility, possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute Xanax, possession with intent to distribute chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, possession of cocaine/crack cocaine, possession of phencyclidine, possession of Xanax and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police.

Blue also faces a money laundering charge and a certain persons not to have weapons charge; Jackson also faces a certain persons not to have weapons charge.

McCray was charged with possession of an imitation firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

Blue, Young and Jackson were taken to the Mercer County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing. McCray was released on a summons, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at (609) 581-4008.

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