The Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration – Camden Office, and the New Jersey State Police concluded a 10-month joint investigation into a cocaine distribution organization this week with one arrest and the seizure of $30,000 in narcotics, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.
According to Prosecutor Onofri, multiple undercover and controlled purchases of cocaine were conducted between June 2017 and April 2018, along with countless hours of surveillance and investigation.
Search warrants were obtained and on April 16th, officers arrested the subject of the investigation, Michael Galdamez, without incident in his black Yukon at the Roebling Market in Trenton with approximately 280 grams of cocaine.
The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office then executed a search warrant at Galdamez’s Glassboro residence and recovered an additional 20 grams of cocaine, approximately $4,000 in cash, empty cocaine kilogram packages and cocaine packaging materials. The seized cocaine has an approximate street value of $30,000.
Authorities charged Galdamez, 36, with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with the intent to distribute. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain him.
Prosecutor Onofri commended all of the agencies involved in the investigation and arrest, including Homeland Security Investigations, DEA – Camden Resident Office, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Police, and the Hamilton, Princeton and Trenton police departments, under the command of his Special Investigations Unit.
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.