“Operation Honeycomb”

           It began with an undercover police officer purchasing a quantity of cocaine approximately 1 year ago and it culminated on November 1st, 2007 after 47 individuals were arrested and over $1 million dollars worth of cocaine and heroin were seized. The result of the lengthy narcotic investigation, dubbed “Operation Honeycomb”, spearheaded by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration resulted in Monmouth County’s biggest drug bust in 25 years and the dismantling of a drug distributing network run by what are believed to be members of the Almighty Latin King/Queen Nation street gang. Also apprehended were suppliers working in California, Florida and New York.
           The investigation was conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Strike Force and Gang Investigations Unit; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division; State Police; Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the Long Branch, Red Bank, Marlboro, Howell, Keansburg, Neptune and Asbury Park police departments.
           The investigation was dubbed “Operation Honeycomb” because of the way the mid- and upper-level suppliers stored their drugs in safe houses. Some of those stash houses were on one-way or dead-end streets, and the dealers chose those places because they believed it would help them avoid law enforcement.
           Seized during the last three months of the investigation were about 32 pounds of cocaine, more than 6 1/2 pounds of heroin, four semiautomatic handguns, two bulletproof vests and approximately $95,000 in cash.
           Those defendants arrested were held on bails ranging from $25,000 to $4 million.
           The New Jersey Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association commends the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the other participating law enforcement agencies on their example of what can be accomplished through their joint cooperation. Because of their inter-agency cooperation the end result was the successful identification and arrest of both local and national drug distributors of narcotics destined for the streets of Monmouth County.