Auto deals — or drug deals? Heroin bust at Elizabeth dealership

ELIZABETH — The owners of a small used-car dealership on Routes 1&9  are facing drug charges after heroin and suspected drug money were found at their city business, prosecutors say.

Yair Gutierrez, 43, of Linden, and Alexander Garcia, 44, of Westfield, were arrested this week after a two-month investigation by authorities in Bergen County.

Officials said they searched Gutierrez's 2005 Chevrolet Equinox and the pair's Emporioum Auto Sales on Thursday and found 1.5 kilograms of suspected heroin, $10,025 in drug proceeds, a kilogram press machine, digital scales and kilogram wrappers.

The were charged with first-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

It was not immediately clear Saturday whether either of the suspects had an attorney.

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