Authorities broke up a cocaine ring in New Jersey and arrested its leader and eight members, prosecutors said Saturday.
The group was responsible for selling about one-third of a kilogram of cocaine every week in Freehold, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.
The arrests came after a nine-month investigation called "Operation Snowball." Prosecutors said five search warrants were executed simultaneously on Thursday, leading to the arrests and the seizure of $14,943 and 721 grams of cocaine.
The group primarily sold cocaine in downtown Freehold, prosecutors said.
Hugo Hernandez, 48, of Freehold, is accused of being the ringleader. He faces many charges, including leading a narcotics trafficking network, which carries a possible life sentence.
Hernandez supplied many lower-level dealers, including his brother Carlos Hernandez-Capos, prosecutors said.
Hernandez-Capos, 35, is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine among other charges.
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Also arrested were: Lucino Roldan-Coria, aka Rufino Roldan, 58, of Freehold; Antonio Romano-Jiminez, aka Merito Romero-Jimenez, 29, of Freehold; Miguel Garcia-Tapia, 30, of Freehold; Procopio Morales-Hernandez, 49, of Freehold; Gregorio Morales-Morales, 35, of Manalapan; John A. Depaola, 53, of Jackson; Roberto Tlapa De La Era, 35, of Freehold.
It wasn't clear whether any of the men had attorneys.
