Two men trying to distribute fentanyl busted in Little Egg Harbor

Skipping his day in court in Ocean County and set to distribute fentanyl leads to the arrest of Arturo Galindo Gil, 36, Monday April 30 as well as the man driving him around Little Egg Harbor, and that was 41-year old Gonzalo Ayona Avila, according to the U.S. Attorney DOJ New Jersey Office.

Law enforcement initiated surveillance of the vehicle Monday and officers with the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle.

They requested consent to search the vehicle and Gil provided signed consent.

Officers found nearly one kilogram of a tightly packaged substance believed to be fentanyl in the back seat of the vehicle.

Police field-tested a sample of the substance and it tested positive for fentanyl.

Both who were found with one kilo of the drug were in Trenton federal court Tuesday for distribution and possession related charges.

Gil also has a reputation of distributing large quantities of controlled substances including fentanyl.

They're charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

After court was over they were detained without bail.

The fentanyl distribution conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life imprisonment, and a $10,000,000.00 fine.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Cherry Hill office under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Richard Reinhold, with the investigation leading to the arrests. He also thanked the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard J. Buzby Jr.; and the Atlantic City Task Force (including the N.J. State Police, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Atlantic City Police Department) for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fabiana Pierre-Louis, Attorney-in-Charge of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Trenton Branch.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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