Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on December 4, 2023, Khaadim Abdullah, 28, of Mays Landing, pled guilty to the charge of Distribution of Methamphetamine in an Amount Greater than Five Ounces before the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C. At the time of his sentencing on February 23, 2024, the State will be seeking a term of 13 years New Jersey State Prison.
During the months of July and August 2022, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas-Monmouth/Ocean Post of Duty (HIDTA/MOPOD) Group 5, United States Drug Enforcement Administration Aviation Unit, United States Department of Homeland Security, New Jersey State Police – Trafficking Central Unit, New Jersey State Police Hamilton Barracks, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Lakewood Township Police Department, Point Pleasant Borough Police Department, Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force, Atlantic County SWAT, Hamilton Township Police Department, Atlantic City Police Department, and Atlantic City SWAT, to conduct an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin/fentanyl in the Atlantic and Ocean County areas. This cooperative, multi-agency investigation identified three residences – two in Mays Landing and one in Atlantic City – as being utilized by Abdullah and his associates to store and distribute illegal narcotics.
On August 18, 2022, Detectives from the aforementioned law enforcement agencies established stationary and mobile surveillance on the residences in Mays Landing and the residence in Atlantic City. Law enforcement maintained surveillance on Abdullah as he traveled in the area of Little Egg Harbor Township. Visual surveillance of Abdullah traveling on the Garden State Parkway was maintained by the New Jersey State Police-Trafficking Central Unit and New Jersey State Police Hamilton Barracks, with the assistance of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration Aviation Unit. Abdullah was observed exiting the Garden State Parkway onto a dirt road in Galloway Township; he then fled the vehicle on foot, discarding items into the wooded areas. Abdullah was ultimately apprehended and taken into custody without incident.
Detectives subsequently executed court-authorized search warrants on the residences in Mays Landing and the residence in Atlantic City. As a result, law enforcement seized – in combination from all three residences – approximately 14 ounces of methamphetamine and other illegal narcotics, as well as paraphernalia indicative of narcotics manufacturing and distribution, a stolen handgun, and $14,900 in United States Currency. Abdullah was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration – HIDTA/MOPOD Group 5, United States Drug Enforcement Administration Aviation Unit, United States Department of Homeland Security, New Jersey State Police-Trafficking Central Unit, New Jersey State Police Hamilton Barracks, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Lakewood Township Police Department, Point Pleasant Borough Police Department, Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force, Atlantic County SWAT, Hamilton Township Police Department, Atlantic City Police Department, and Atlantic City SWAT, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Abdullah’s guilty plea, and soon his state prison sentence.