5 Arrested, $4M In Drugs Seized In Bergen County Narcotics Bust: Prosecutors

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Five people were arrested in a $4 million drug manufacturing and distributing scheme in Bergen County, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Three Bergen County residents and two from New York City were charged in the scheme.

Thomas Crisafulli, 27, of Bergenfield, Ethan Lara, 25, of Lodi, Michael Morales, 25, of Bergenfield, Jayshawn Eyamazememba, 22, of the Bronx, and Naudy Oviedo, 21, of the Bronx were charged with various drug offenses, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said that starting last September, detectives began investigating a "large-scale illegal drug scheme" with locations including Broad Street in Bergenfield, Ralph Street in Bergenfield, Lake Street in Englewood, and Lawrence Avenue in Lodi.

Last Thursday, county detectives and local police searched the locations.

They seized $4 million in illicit narcotics, including
MDMA, ketamine, marijuana, and Tapentadol, they said.

The seizure totaled three kilograms of MDMA, nine kilograms of Ketamine, and 291 kilograms of pressed fraudulent pills, prosecutors said.

The five suspects were charged with first-degree operating a controlled dangerous substance facility, first-degree
possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, second-degree possession with the intent to distribute a schedule II narcotic, third-degree possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, and third-degree possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.

All five were taken to the Bergen County jail, prosecutors said.

They made a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack and were released to await further court action, prosecutors said.