“BE HAPPY”

During the months of May and June 2005, the Perth Amboy Police Department’s Narcotics Division had begun experiencing large increases in the seizure of quantities of heroin stamped with the logo “Be Happy”. In addition, at least three drug-related overdoses which law enforcement attributed to the “Be Happy” brand of heroin had occurred.

A cooperative investigation between the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Narcotic Task Force, and the Perth Amboy, Woodbridge and Edison Police Departments began. Through the use of undercover operatives, in conjunction with extensive surveillance, the law enforcement agencies were able to infiltrate and subsequently identify the various conspirators of the operation.

During the evening hours of October 6, 2005, police officers stopped and searched a red Saturn which was occupied by Alexis Fontanez and Reiner Feliciano on Convery Boulevard, in the City of Perth Amboy. Inside the vehicle, police found four hundred and nine “decks” of heroin. The entire amount of confiscated heroin was stamped with the “Be Happy” logo.

Law enforcement also executed court authorized search warrants at three residences within the city and other vehicles that were utilized by the operation’s co-conspirators. Additional packaging materials, small quantities of drugs and cash were seized as a result of these searches.

Authorities determined through the four month investigation that this large scale heroin operation, headed by Alexis Fontanez, was responsible for distributing over sixteen hundred “decks” of heroin per week in, and around the city borders. This is equivalent to approximately six ounces of the drug.

The New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association congratulates the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force and those other law enforcement agencies who participated in the cooperative investigation helping to clean up the Bay City.