Atlantic County Man Indicted in Heroin Trafficking Ring

An Egg Harbor City man has been indicted on weapons and drug related offenses in connection with selling a stolen gun and participating in a heroin trafficking ring, Acting Atlantic County prosecutor Jim McClain announced on Thursday.

Ernest Collier, 19, was indicted in two separate cases in which he allegedly distributed heroin and illegally sold a gun.

He was among nine defendants, including Steven Martinez, 19, of Egg Harbor City, were charged with heroin trafficking on Dec. 18 following the search of two units in the Philadelphia Housing Complex at 1000 Buffalo Avenue.

The search, conducted by members of the Prosecutor’s Office Guns, Gangs and Narcotics Unit, the Atlantic County SWAT Team and the Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township and Pleasantville Police Departments, was part of a seven-month long joint narcotics investigation.

Authorities seized over $10,000 worth of heroin, multiple firearms, ammunition, cash and a two-way radio communications system.

Prior to the execution of the search warrants, Collier and Martinez were observed by detectives arranging and conducting heroin transactions on eight separate occasions.

On Thursday, Collier was indicted on eight counts of possession of heroin, nine counts of distribution of heroin and seven counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Martinez has also been indicted on six counts of possession of heroin, seven counts of distribution of heroin and seven counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin.

The cases against the remaining individuals arrested in connection with the heroin trafficking ring remain pending.

A list of the 45 towns with the most heroin and opiate abuse did not include Egg Harbor City, but four Atlantic County towns did make the list, including Atlantic City (No. 4), Egg Harbor Township (No. 13), Galloway (No. 39) and Somers Point (No. 41).