Drug Raid Nets Four Arrests, $33K in Cash

An early morning drug raid of two Betty Shabazz Village residences last Thursday yielded four arrests, $6,000 in narcotics and more than $33,000 in cash, authorities said.

Shortly before 6 a.m., detectives with the Newark Police Department's Narcotics and Gangs Bureau, as well as Emergency Services Unit officers, executed two search warrants at 7A and 7B Irvine Turner Blvd., according to Sgt. Ronald Glover, NPD spokesperson. The search warrants stemmed from undercover narcotics operations and investigations.

In 7A, detectives recovered nearly $1,000-worth of heroin and a .40-caliber firearm loaded with hollow bullet points. Police arrested Shaquan Ward, 27, of that address, and charged him with nearly a dozen weapons- and narcotics-related offenses. Ward has had a probation violation and several felony convictions, as well as more than a dozen arrests for offenses including assault on a police officer, possession of a weapon, possession of narcotics, receiving stolen property and burglary.

Kenneth Ward, 41, of 7A Irvine Turner Blvd., and Olajuwan Reynolds, 25, of Newark, were also arrested. Both men were wanted by NPD and the Essex County Sheriff's Department on open criminal and traffic bench warrants.

Meanwhile, in 7B, detectives recovered more than $33,000 in cash and $5,000-worth of heroin and arrested Hassan Ward, 22, Dashon Ward, 21, and Zaakira Ward, 29, charging each with possession of controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession with intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 1,000 ft. of a school, possession with intent to distribute within 500 ft. of public housing, possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy.

"These brave officers routinely put themselves at great risk as they conduct undercover narcotics operations," said Police Director Samuel DeMaio in a statement. "Today, as we celebrate another victory in our ongoing war against these narcotics networks, we are also sending a positive message to our community that we are working diligently to arrest those who seek to turn our neighborhoods into drug zones."

– Staff reports