The New Jersey State Police arrested Luis Rivera, 50, of Jersey City, N.J., and Samir Helou, 56, of Brooklyn, N.Y., after they were found in possession of more than $70,000 worth of stolen spices.
On Thursday, February 17, a cooperative investigation by the Interstate Theft North Unit and the Linden Police Department led to the recovery of a stolen tractor-trailer in Jersey City. The 2007 Freightliner truck was reported stolen out of Linden, and the trailer was reported stolen out of Edison. Both were reported stolen on February 16.
Through various investigative means, detectives were able to determine that the truck stopped at a storage facility in Cliffwood. As detectives continued their investigation, they located Rivera and Helou at the storage facility later that day at 8:45 p.m. Both men had access to a storage unit that contained 75,456 units of Shan brand spices.
Samir Helou was charged with receiving stolen property and possession of fireworks and was lodged at the Monmouth County Jail in lieu of $75,000 full cash bail.
Luis River was charged with receiving stolen property and lodged at Monmouth County Jail in lieu of $50,000 full cash bail.