Crime & Safety
Pound of Marijuana Seized in Christmas Weekend Drug Arrest
Police say they discovered more than a pound of pot in a car two men were driving though Mahwah early Sunday morning
Early holiday celebrations for two New York men were cut short early Sunday morning after they were caught driving through Mahwah with more than a pound of marijuana, according to Mahwah Police.
Adriel Ortiz, 31, of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., and Virgil Zamora, 27, of Rego Park, N.Y., were arrested at about 2:30 a.m. the day before Christmas Eve after Mahwah Police Officer Kevin Tielemans pulled their Honda over on East Ramapo Avenue for a “routine motor vehicle violation,” Chief Jim Batelli said Monday.
Visible remnants of marijuana and a “strong odor” prompted Tielemans to search the vehicle, Batelli said.
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Ortiz was charged with possession of marijuana and intent to distribute and Zamora was charged with a lesser possession charge and a drug paraphernalia charge after cops found more than a pound of marijuana in the car, Batelli said.
A woman who was riding in the back seat of the car at the time it was pulled over was not charged with any crimes, though police said their investigation is ongoing.
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Police Officer John Lange assisted on the scene.
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