Heroin ring busts earn Ocean County detectives statewide recognition

Detectives in the Ocean County Prosecutor's Special Operations Group receive distinctive honors for directing two major drug probes that led to almost three dozen arrests and the seizure of massive amounts of heroin, weapons and cash.

The New Jersey Narcotics Enforcment Officers Association awarded one investigator its 2016 Central Narcotics Officer of the Year honor on June 9 at Bally's in Atlantic City, and also recognized the entire squad for its collective work in Operations "Broken Rule" and "Sin City" in 2015.

The same detective was singled out again the following night by the Southern Counties Narcotics Task Force Commanders Association, at the Buena Vista Country Club, as its Albert Mallen Ocean County Narcotics Officer of the Year. Prosecutor's spokesman Al Della Fave shielded his identity in deference to his operational duties.

From December 2014 until April 2015, two networks were under scrutiny as investigators traced the trail of more than a kilogram of heroin per week entering Ocean County.

Drugs sold to confidential informants by John "Sin" Gonzalez and Bertrick "King Rule" Artis led to the discovery of dual syndicates, one importing packaged and raw heroin and processing it into doses, the other importing several hundred bricks of heroin into Ocean County each week, authorities said.

The detective managed more than 50 officers in the four-month, multi-level operations that targeted networks infiltrating Union, Ocean, Monmouth and Atlantic Counties. He submitted 19 Title III wiretap affadavits and obtained warrants for searches, seizures and arrests.

The twin probes resulted in the seizure of nearly 34,000 doses of heroin, about 50 grams of raw heroin, about $140,000 cash, 34 cars and vehicles - one with an electronic device to conceal the drugs - illegal firearms inclduing a TEC-9 assault weapon, and packaging materials. Investigators placed the value of the drugs at $325,000.