Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer has announced that the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit in conducting a two-month long investigation into the distribution of Cocaine in the Ocean County area. This cooperative, multi-agency investigation ultimately identified two residences in Lakewood as allegedly being utilized by Ranyer Meyreles-Alvarado, 29, of Lakewood, to store and distribute cocaine.
In furtherance of the investigation, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, along with Officers of the Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department Special Response Team, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, detained Meyreles-Alvarado pursuant to a motor vehicle stop in Lakewood on April 17, 2021. These agencies then executed previously obtained court-authorized search warrants on the two subject residences in Lakewood. As a result, law enforcement seized approximately 165 grams of Cocaine, and roughly $6000 in cash.
Meyreles-Alvarado was charged with Possession of Cocaine in an Amount Greater than Five Ounces with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(1); Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a. Meyreles-Alvarado was taken into custody, processed at Lakewood Township Police Headquarters, and transported to the Ocean County Jail. He was subsequently released from the Ocean County Jail on April 19, 2021 as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department Special Response Team, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation.
The press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.