Nearly a half-million dollars worth of marijuana — more than 100 pounds — was seized in a raid on a Zion Road, Hillsborough, home on Tuesday, April 12.
A resident, Craig Ocleppo, 30, was arrested and charged with drug and firearms charges, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
On Tuesday, detectives from the prosecutor’s office and the Hillsborough Township Police Department executed a Superior Court search warrant on Mr. Ocleppo’s residence. Detectives seized 107 pounds of marijuana, pre-packaged and in clear heat-sealed plastic bags, found in two steamer trunks. The estimated street value of the marijuana was $480,000, police said.
Additionally, detectives recovered nine firearms, which included handguns, rifles and shotguns. One of the weapons, a Sig Sauer Model SIG516 semi-automatic rifle 5.56 NATO, is prohibited under New Jersey law as an assault firearm, police said. Eighteen large-capacity ammunition magazines and $69,955 in cash were also seized from the residence.
Mr. Ocleppo has been charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, a first-degree crime; the second-degree crimes of possession of an assault firearm and possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug offense, and possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines, a fourth-degree offense.
Mr. Ocleppo was lodged in Somerset County Jail. At his 1:30 p.m. arraignment, Superior Court Judge Kathy C. Quasim set bail at $150,000 cash only.
