Anthony Bond
NEWARK –
A Nutley man was among 48 individuals charged last week in a law enforcement sweep “centered on violence, drugs, guns and murder in Essex County, mainly in the city of Newark,” County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced.
Dubbed Operation T.I.D.E. (Targeted Integrated Deployment Enforcement), the July 1 takedown was the result of a five-month investigation focusing on a drug ring operated by members of the 793 set of the Bloods gang. Murray’s office identified the Nutley suspect as Anthony Bond, 58, who was charged with conspiracy to distribute CDS.
Others arrested included residents of Essex, Monmouth and Morris counties.
Authorities said the countywide operation has culminated in the seizure of more than $31,000 in cash; heroin, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, prescription painkillers and codeine syrup with a street value of $10,000; four semiautomatic handguns, and an assault rifle.
The ECPO Narcotics Task Force led the investigation with the assistance of the Bergen, Passaic, Morris and Monmouth prosecutors’ offices, the N.J. State Police, the the Essex County Sheriff’s Office and the Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Montclair and Paramus police departments.
“We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to rid the county of crime, drugs and violence and make it a safer place to live, work and visit,’’ Murray said.
At a press conference in Newark, state Attorney General John Hoffman noted, “The guns, heroin and oxycontin seized in this operation speak to the dual threat posed by this network, which controlled its turf with violence while fueling the deadly epidemic of opiate addiction gripping our communities.”
The investigation is continuing.
– Karen Zautyk
