Secaucus cocaine probe ends with arrests and $11K cash seizure after seven-month stakeout
Secaucus, NJ – A seven-month investigation that started with a tip about drugs moving out of a Paulanne Terrace home ended Friday night with a street stop, two court-authorized searches, and three arrests tied to suspected cocaine distribution in Hudson County.
The Secaucus Police Department said its Anti-Crime Unit began looking into Mohamed Laib in June after receiving information that he was distributing cocaine from his Secaucus residence. Detectives said they conducted surveillance over seven months and observed activity they described as illegal cocaine distribution.
On Friday, January 23, shortly after 7 p.m., detectives said they watched Laib conduct what they identified as a drug transaction on Fairview Avenue in Secaucus with Steven Liptai. Police said both men were stopped at the same time and found in possession of cocaine, leading to their arrests.
Investigators then carried out simultaneous court-authorized searches at two locations: Laib’s Paulanne Terrace residence in Secaucus and a residence on the 1400 block of Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen that police said belonged to Laib’s girlfriend and was being used to store cocaine. Secaucus police said the searches involved the Anti-Crime Unit, Detective and Patrol Divisions, the Secaucus K-9 Unit, and the North Bergen Police Department.
Police said about $10,000 was seized from the Paulanne Terrace home. From the Paterson Plank Road residence, police said they recovered a large quantity of suspected cocaine, paraphernalia associated with distribution, and additional cash. In total, investigators said approximately 100 grams of suspected cocaine and $11,307 in cash were seized.
Laib, 34, of Secaucus, was charged with multiple offenses including possession with intent to distribute cocaine, school-zone and public-park distribution counts, possession of CDS, money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia, according to the department. Police said Chelsey Albuja, 25, of North Bergen, was arrested following the search and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a public-park distribution count, possession of CDS, and money laundering.
Police said Laib and Albuja were lodged in the Hudson County Jail. Liptai, 51, of Secaucus, was charged with possession of CDS and released on a summons pending his court appearance, police said.
Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller credited the Anti-Crime Unit’s investigative work and thanked the North Bergen Police Department for assistance. Police also noted the charges are accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Tips can be submitted by calling (201) 330-2049, emailing spdtips@secaucusnjpolice.gov, or anonymously through the department website at www.secaucuspolice.org, police said.
Key Points
- Secaucus police say a seven-month probe led to a street stop and searches tied to suspected cocaine distribution
- Investigators report seizing about 100 grams of suspected cocaine and $11,307 in cash across two locations
- Three people were arrested or charged, with two lodged in the Hudson County Jail
