Police seize heroin valued at $40K

EATONTOWN - A random license plate check last week by a borough police officer resulted in the arrest of three women and a drug seizure valued at $40,000, according to police reports.

Patrolman Antonio Amodio was driving east on Highway 36 Nov. 19 at 9:56 p.m. when he performed a plate inquiry on a 2006 Pontiac G6, which is a standard procedure for officers on patrol, according to reports.

Amodio learned that the car was reported stolen out of Newark Nov. 3, and he pulled the vehicle over near the Department of Motor Vehicles jughandle.

Upon searching the car, Amodio found a "significant" amount of heroin with a street value of approximately $40,000, according to reports.

"In my 26-plus years, this is the largest drug seizure initiated by the Eatontown Police Department," Detective Sgt. Thomas C. Clayton said.

Clayton explained that the search turned up 40 bricks of heroin, each containing 50 decks or bags per brick, for a total of 2,000 decks, according to reports.

A deck of heroin can contain anywhere from 1 to 15 grams and is used specifically for street sale, according to reports.

Arrested were Andrea S. Finney, 19, Terrea M. Hardin, 21 and Antionette V. Hodges, 20, all of Newark.

The three women are facing the following charges: possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession of a CDS with intent to distribute and receiving stolen property for being in possession of the Pontiac, according to reports.

The women were transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold; bail was set at $220,000 for both Hardin and Hodges. Bail was set at $120,000 for Finney, according to reports.