Crime & Safety

City Man Arrested on Drug Charges

Park Avenue resident found with $8,200 worth of crack, sheriff's office says

A 55-year-old city man was arrested Monday following an investigation by members of the Essex County Sheriff’s narcotics unit, Sheriff Armando Fontoura announced Wednesday.

Narcotics detectives conducted surveillance at the Park Avenue home of Leoncio Vargas, 55, Monday and observed him leaving around 10:45 am. As they followed him, detectives then reportedly observed Vargas conduct a hand-to-hand drug transaction with a motorist parked at Park Avenue and N. 7th Street.

Detectives stopped Vargas at the 1st Street subway station and searched him, discovering 164 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of $8,200, the sheriff’s office said.

Vargas was placed under arrest and charged with several narcotics offenses, including possession and possession with intent to distribute. He was being held at the Essex County Jail on an $80,000 cash bond.


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