“Violations Lead to Apprehensions”

           It was in August 2007 when officers from the New Jersey State Police went to an Old Bridge residence to investigate $8,375 in toll violations racked up by a trucking company.
           The officers said that the odor of marijuana had permeated the large three story brick building located on Birch Street. After smelling the marijuana, the State Police obtained a search warrant and found 25 pounds of harvested marijuana and $204,999 in cash, 22 marijuana plants that were growing in the basement of the home and an extensive lighting and ventilation system.
           The owner of the trucking company, Rigoberto Leyva, and his wife, Arelis Leyva, both 35, were in Cuba for a family vacation when the State Police visited the house about the violations. Yosvani Broche and Onel Montes-Deoca, both 31, were at the Leyvas' house when the State Police visited to investigate the toll violations and were arrested after the detectives smelled the marijuana.
           When the Leyvas returned home from vacation in September they discovered that their home had been raided. The couple arranged to surrender to State Police in Cranbury on November 6th. They were charged with operating a marijuana production facility at the house, endangering the welfare of their children, money laundering, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and theft-of-service charges on the toll violations.
           The Honorable Frederick DeVesa continued bail at $250,000 each for the Leyvas. Bail for both Broche, of West Palm, Fla., and Montes-Deoca, of East Brunswick, was set at $150,000.
           The New Jersey Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association commends those officers of the New Jersey State Police for their keen sense of smell and intuition that resulted in a successful narcotic investigation.