Police target Nye Avenue building
IRVINGTON -- Police seized heroin and marijuana and arrested seven people in a raid at a residential building in the township, officials announced Tuesday.
The arrests came after the town police department's intelligence unit served a search warrant at the Nye Avenue building, according to Mayor Tony Vauss. The drugs were packaged for street-level distribution and police also seized a .22 caliber revolver and ammunition, officials said.
"Cleaner and safer, that's what I promised the people of Irvington and that is what I am delivering with the great work of the men and women in the Irvington Police Department and throughout my Administration," Vauss said in a statement.
The seven people arrested face various weapons and drug charges, the mayor said.
14K heroin packets, guns seized in tow yard raid, sheriff says
Officials did not immediately release further details about the investigation. A mayor's office spokeswoman identified those arrested as Mustafa Evans, 37, of Irvington, Aubrey Mitchell, 57, of Irvington, Cedric Haywood, 25, of Irvington, Habeeb Blackstone, 25, of Newark, Gerri Oliver, 22, of Irvington, Aneudy Gutierrez, 32, of Maplewood and Anival Rivera, 55, of Irvington.
Township officials have touted declines in serious crime in Irvington, a township often known as among the state's most violent. The township has logged only one homicide six months into this year, according to police data. Irvington saw 14 homicides in all of 2015.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.