Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray (center) and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose (right) speak at an unrelated press conference. The two officials announced recent drug arrests in Newark Feb. 2, 2017Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger
NEWARK — A long-running investigation into drug activity at a housing complex in Newark’s Central Ward led authorities to charge more than 40 people as well as seize heroin, guns and cash, authorities said Thursday.
In the latest phase of the investigation, a team of law enforcement officers carried out raids Wednesday at the Oscar Myles Housing Complex, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in an announcement. Seventeen people were arrested in the most recent police operation.
The arrests — which ranged from drug possession to active warrants and narcotics distribution-related offenses — were the result of an investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Narcotics Task Force, which includes Newark police detectives.
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The latest round of arrests included 29-year-old Zaid Williams, of Newark, according to authorities. Williams was charged with various drug offenses, including possession with the intent to distribute drugs within 1,000 feet of a school and 500 feet of public housing. Williams was also charged unlawful possession of a handgun and other weapons offenses.
Task force detectives seized two additional handguns, heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs in earlier stages of the investigation, according to the prosecutor’s office.
In all, the heroin carried a street value of approximately $10,600 and detectives recovered more than $11,000, authorities added. Before the raids Wednesday, another 29 people were arrested on various drug charges and for active warrants.
In announcing the arrests, Murray and Ambrose also said four men were wanted in the investigation. The four were identified as Kenyah Carney, Omar Glenn, Rasheem King and Ikaim McSwain.
Officers from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Montclair and Bloomfield police assisted in the raids.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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