NORTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. — Members of New Jersey’s Somerset County Prosecutor’s Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force seized more than $75,000 worth of cocaine in an investigation dubbed “Operation Dirty Laundry” because of the defendants’ alleged habit of conducting their business in coin laundries, authorities say.More than two pounds of cocaine were found in a lockbox that was tucked in a laundry bag filled with dirty clothes. That and about $50,000 in cash and three vehicles were seized in what authorities are calling the largest single drug seizure in the county in the past 15 years.Three Plainfield men — German Marquez, 25; Jose Santos Monrroy Galdamez, 49; and Maximino Bueno, 32 — were the target of the four-month probe that culminated with 25 people being charged with various drug offenses.Bueno is accused of the most serious offense — first-degree felony for cocaine possession with intent to distribute — and he is being held on $200,000 bail. Marquez and Galdamez were charged with second-degree felonies for distribution of cocaine, second-degree felonies for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of cocaine. In addition, Galdamez was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.The three targeted men allegedly distributed drugs in and around North Plainfield, Forrest and police Chief William Parenti said. Police first heard Marquez was selling cocaine in North Plainfield, and an undercover Bound Brook officer bought more than 3.5 ounces of cocaine from him during a four-day period, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest.Galdamez, also known as “Tito,” is believed to be Marquez’s supplier. Galdamez is accused of selling to a large number of customers in Somerset and Union counties, and he allegedly obtained the drugs from Bueno, Forrest says.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].