By: Tracie Carter
A routine welfare check by Guttenberg Police turned into a major weapons and narcotics bust Friday morning after officers discovered a loaded handgun and a significant quantity of illegal drugs inside a vehicle.
According to information released by the Guttenberg Police Department, officers responded at approximately 8:24 a.m. on May 16, 2025, to a report of a man appearing to be asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle on Hudson Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers found the car positioned in the roadway with the transmission in reverse and the driver asleep inside.
After waking the man, later identified as 33-year-old Jeferson Marte-Peralta of West New York, officers noticed he was bleeding heavily from a finger.
Emergency Medical Services from North Bergen were called to the scene for assistance.
While the man was being evaluated, an officer observed the handle of a handgun on the front seat, partially covered by a jacket.
Police said Marte-Peralta had no valid concealed carry permit or firearms ID card.
The weapon was identified as a fully loaded Smith & Wesson M&P .22 caliber handgun containing one hollow point bullet and eight lead round nose bullets.
Marte-Peralta was immediately taken into custody and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a firearm for an illegal purpose, and possession of prohibited ammunition.
A further search of the vehicle and his person led to the discovery of 44 grams of a white powder believed to be cocaine, 16 grams of a pink powder suspected to be “Tusi” or 2C-B, 89 Oxycodone pills, 47 Alprazolam pills, a Meloxicam tablet, five cell phones, $3,791.70 in suspected drug proceeds, and drug paraphernalia.
He now faces multiple additional charges, including drug distribution, possession within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of prescription drugs without a prescription, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police also issued several traffic summonses.
Marte-Peralta was processed and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Center pending court proceedings.