February 22, 2022

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–A two-month investigation into narcotics distribution in the Trenton area has culminated with the arrest of an Illinois man and the seizure of $300,000 in heroin and fentanyl, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.

On Thursday, February 17, 2022, as part of an ongoing investigation, members of the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI were conducting surveillance in a parking lot on Route 130 in Hamilton Township.  As a result of the investigation and surveillance, detectives detained Job Carranza-Ocampo without incident and located two kilograms of heroin in the bed of his Ford F-150 pickup truck.  A kilogram of fentanyl was located on the ground behind his truck.

A search of Carranza-Ocampo, 31, of Melrose Park, Illinois, revealed $467 in cash.  Carranza-Ocampo was charged with numerous narcotic-related offenses, including first- and second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute.  The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain him pending trial.

According to Prosecutor Onofri, the street value of the confiscated fentanyl is approximately $100,000 and the heroin is approximately $200,000.

Despite having been charged, all persons are presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.