On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the Wayne Police Department, in collaboration with the New Jersey State Police, conducted raids with the support of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Clifton, Haledon, and Pompton Lakes Police Departments. To facilitate the operation, tactical units from the NJSP TEAMS Unit and Elmwood Park ERT assisted in gaining entry to multiple locations in Elmwood Park, Saddle Brook, Paterson, Bloomfield, and Montague, as confirmed by officials.
Authorities have reported the confiscation of the following items:
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- Five firearms, including a 9mm ghost gun and an AR-15
- 5,910 folds of heroin
- Five ounces of cocaine
- Five pounds of marijuana
- $23,923 in cash
Wayne Police Chief Joseph Rooney praised the successful collaboration that led to the dismantling of a significant drug operation. He emphasized the crucial role played by multi-agency cooperation in removing dangerous drugs and weapons from the streets.
Michael Ortega, 42, from Elmwood Park, was among the individuals apprehended. He faces multiple charges, including running a CDS production facility, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, endangering the welfare of a child, money laundering, possessing drug paraphernalia, possessing heroin, possessing cocaine, possessing crack cocaine, intending to distribute CDS within 1,000 feet of a school (four counts), and tampering with evidence.
42-year-old Andre Hamilton from Saddle Brook is facing charges for failing to verify his address with law enforcement and failing to notify them about a change in his address.
Jorge Jimenez, a 35-year-old resident of Bloomfield, has been arrested on multiple charges. He is facing allegations of possessing cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana. Additionally, he is accused of intending to distribute cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana. Furthermore, Jimenez is charged with possessing drug paraphernalia and a large capacity magazine. The possession with intent to distribute charges also include three counts of distributing within 1,000 feet of a school.
Jaime Arango, a 42-year-old resident of Bergenfield, has been arrested and is facing multiple charges. These charges include possession of cocaine, possession of MDMA, possession of marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute MDMA, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school (three counts), possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a large capacity magazine.
Jason Guadagno, a 46-year-old resident of Montague, has been arrested on multiple charges. These include possession of heroin, possession of 23 Xanax pills, possession of CDS paraphernalia, possession of high-capacity magazines, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (five counts), possession of a ghost gun, possession of hollow point ammunition, possession of an assault weapon, and possession of body armor.
Hamilton was released on a summons in accordance with bail reform guidelines, while the remaining individuals were held pending detention hearings, according to officials.
