Antonio Farias-Torres, 37, of Browns Mills, and Ansberto Garcia-Ortiz, 40, of Mount Holly, are charged with weapons offenses and possession of a controlled, dangerous substance with intent to distribute.

By Matt Skoufalos | December 7, 2018

Crystal methamphetamine. Credit: Wikipedia user Radspunk – https://goo.gl/Rm8wox

A pair of South Jersey men alleged to be participating in “a large-scale drug trafficking organization” was arrested Wednesday in Cherry Hill by a joint task force, according to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office (CCPO).

Antonio Farias-Torres, 37, of Browns Mills, and Ansberto Garcia-Ortiz, 40, of Mount Holly, were arrested in the parking lot of a Cherry Hill Walmart after an eight-month investigation by federal, county, and local law enforcement agencies.

Farias-Torres and Garcia-Ortiz are alleged to have trafficked “bulk quantities” of crystal methamphetamine and marijuana in Camden and Burlington Counties, the CCPO said.

In the arrest, officers seized a handgun, about seven pounds of crystal meth, and one pound of marijuana, collectively valued at $475,000.

Both men were charged with multiple counts of possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS), multiple counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute, and weapons offenses. They were remanded to the Camden County Jail.

Further, Farias-Torres and Garcia-Ortiz are alleged to be in the United States illegally, the CCPO noted; U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers were placed on them by Homeland Security Investigations.

All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. An arrest is not a conviction.

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