Hasan J. Johnson, 2KG Cocaine Trafficking, NJ 2024

Two kilograms of cocaine and nearly 700 grams of heroin flooded the streets of northern New Jersey before federal agents slammed the brakes on the operation—arresting Hasan J. Johnson, 37, of Chester, Pennsylvania, and Jose D. Martinez, 50, of Palisades Park, New Jersey. Both men now face federal charges tied to a high-volume drug conspiracy that unraveled in a matter of hours on November 28, 2016.

Johnson was pulled over late that night after committing multiple traffic violations while driving away from a residence in Palisades Park. During the stop, he consented to a vehicle search. Law enforcement officers found a bag stashed with approximately one kilogram of pure cocaine. The bust immediately triggered deeper suspicion, leading agents to move fast on the source.

Armed with a warrant, federal agents stormed the Palisades Park residence later that same night. Inside, they found Martinez in possession of another kilogram of cocaine and a separate package containing 694 grams of heroin. The haul—worth hundreds of thousands on the street—exposed a well-organized distribution chain operating across state lines.

The criminal complaint charges both Hasan J. Johnson and Jose D. Martinez with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Martinez faces an additional charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin—each carrying a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5 million fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Williams of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark is prosecuting the case. The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, under Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, whose team has been aggressively targeting interstate drug networks in the region.

Both defendants were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court. No bond was recommended. As the case moves forward, law enforcement sources say they’re following leads that could expose additional players in the trafficking ring. For now, the streets gained a brief reprieve—but the war on high-volume narcotics remains relentless.