Drug Bust In Montclair, West Orange Ends With 2 Arrests: Officers Seize Ecstasy, Gun, Cash

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A narcotics bust took place in Essex County on Wednesday, with police carrying out raids at a stash location in Montclair and an accused drug dealer’s home in West Orange.

According to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, police seized hundreds of suspected ecstasy/MDMA pills, crack cocaine, cocaine, illicit marijuana, a stolen handgun, suspected narcotics proceeds and a motor vehicle.

Two people were arrested during the sting: Jason M. Granderson, 49, of West Orange, and Quadee Lapread, 45, of Montclair.

The sheriff’s office said Montclair police contacted detectives in the narcotics bureau on June 8 about an alleged narcotics distribution operation in the township.

Detectives from both agencies launched a joint investigation, which included surveillance on the 10-block of Mission Street in Montclair.

Meanwhile, detectives identified Granderson as a suspect in multiple narcotics transactions in the area. Police monitored his movements between the Montclair stash location and his home in West Orange, eventually obtaining a search warrant for both spots.

On Wednesday, members of the Essex County Sheriff's Office Bureau of Narcotics, the Essex County Sheriff's Office Tactical Response Team, the Montclair Police Department Community Response Team and the Montclair Police Department Detective Bureau searched both locations.

Police seized drugs, cash and a gun, authorities said. The list included:

• 612 suspected ecstasy/MDMA pills
• Approximately 10.8 grams of crack-cocaine
• Approximately three grams of cocaine
• Approximately 214 grams of marijuana
• A loaded .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, later determined to have been stolen from Richland County, South Carolina
• Approximately $2,841 in suspected narcotics proceeds
• A motor vehicle with an estimated value of approximately $12,000

Police arrested Granderson was arrested at his West Orange residence. He has been charged with 16 criminal offenses, including narcotics distribution, narcotics distribution within 500 feet of public property, narcotics distribution within 1,000 feet of school property, committing a narcotics offense while in possession of a firearm, and receiving stolen property.

Police arrested Lapread at the Montclair location. He has been charged with narcotics distribution, narcotics distribution within 500 feet of public property, and narcotics distribution within 1,000 feet of school property.

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