PLUMSTED — Three men were apprehended by local and Ocean County law enforcement officers during an early morning drug raid after police were tipped off to their alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking.
According to police, Plumsted detectives Brant Uricks and Angelo Barbieri and other members of the Plumsted Police Department were investigating the illegal sale of marijuana in the area.
Following their investigation, members of the Ocean County Regional SWAT team conducted a search of three properties in the vicinity of Oak Drive Road just after 4:30 a.m. Aug. 16.
Police said the officers seized about 3 pounds of marijuana and a handgun as a result of the search.
Plumsted residents Alejandro Rodriguez Agular, 21, Jose Rodriguez-Agular, 21, and Refugio Ramos, 27, were apprehended by the SWAT team.
Members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Unit, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, officers from the Toms River Police Department and the New Hanover Police Department K-9 unit assisted.
Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were also present.
Alejandro Rodriguez-Agular was charged with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession of more than 50 grams of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm during a drug action, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $150,000 with no 10 percent option.
Jose Rodriguez-Agular and Ramos were each charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute. Bail for each man was set at $75,000 with no 10 percent option.
All three men were initially unable to post bail and were placed in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River.