Nearly a half-ton of pot with a street value of $1.5 million was taken off the streets thanks to a massive bust in South Kearny carried out by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, but the two men who possessed the illegal drug were both free the very next day because they didn’t meet the requirements to be held on remand or on bail, the sheriff, Francis X. “Frank” Schillari, announced last week.
On Friday, Jan. 31, the HCSO, with the assistance of the United States Department of Homeland Security, intercepted a tractor trailer shipment of marijuana as it made a delivery to a Kearny warehouse.
The tractor was loaded with 737 pounds of marijuana.
“This is one of the biggest single marijuana busts in Hudson County history,” Schillari said. “Our detective bureau deserves all the credit for an excellent job. I’m proud to have them in my department serving and protecting the people of Hudson County.”
Arrested were Usman Ahmed, 31, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and Manjot Aujal, 21, of Poughkeepsie, New York. They were both charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and first-degree manufacturing and distribution of a controlled-dangerous substance.
Ahmed and Aujal were both taken to the Hudson County Jail in South Kearny.
However, because of the new bail reform law in Jersey, neither could be held on remand or bail.
Instead, they were both released on their own recognizance, pending their respective court dates.
Learn more about the writer ...
Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.