By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Bergen County announced the arrests of 24-year-old Karanjit Singh and 25-year-old Jagroop Singh (both of Wood-Ridge, NJ) for possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella stated that these arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Special Agent In Charge Michael McCarthy; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Port Director Tenavel Thomas; and the Wood-Ridge Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael O’Donnell.
During the month of January 2026, the Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Airport Group, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), intercepted approximately nineteen kilograms of dried poppy pods that were shipped to the United States from the Netherlands and intended to be delivered by courier service to a private residence in Wood-Ridge, BCPO officials say.
According to Bergen County officials, Poppy pods contain naturally occurring opiates, and during initial investigation into the shipment, HSI and CBP were able to positively identify that the dried poppy pods contained morphine, which is a controlled dangerous substance.
Accordingly, a joint investigation into the drug activity was initiated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force, HSI, CBP, and the Wood-Ridge Police Department, Bergen County authorities said. On Friday, January 30, 2026, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force, HSI, and the Wood-Ridge Police Department executed a court-authorized search warrant at the residence in Wood-Ridge.
During the search warrant, detectives located and identified the residents, Karanjit Singh and Jagroop Singh, BCPO officials stated. They also located dried poppy pods and additional drug paraphernalia consistent with the distribution of controlled dangerous substances.
As a result of the investigation, Bergen County officials said, Karanjit Singh and Jagroop Singh were placed under arrest and charged with second-degree possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. Karanjit Singh and Jagroop Singh were remanded to the Bergen County Jail and made their first appearances in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.
Karanjit Singh was released pending further court action, while Jagroop Singh was held in custody pending further court action, according to Bergen County officials.