Pennsauken Man, Brothers Charged in Connection With Camden Narcotics Ring

A Pennsauken man and his brother who allegedly ran a network that distributed illegal narcotics with ties to Mexican drug cartels were arrested as part of a larger takedown of the network, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced on Thursday.

Edwin Urbina, 33, of Pennsauken, and Omar Urbina, 39, of Philadelphia, were among 34 defendants arrested in connection with the network that distributed heroin and cocaine in Camden, according to the report. They were arrested on Nov. 8, but many arrests were made on Thursday.

They are charged with racketeering and leading a narcotics trafficking network. A total of 47 were charged with racketeering on Thursday, Hoffman said.

Edwin Urbina, 34, of Camden, is also charged, and is currently being sought as a fugitive. He also allegedly ran the narcotics network.

The network allegedly run by the Urbinas sold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine and heroin a month in the area of 4th and New York streets in North Camden.

They allegedly rented out blocks or street corners to associates who dealt the illegal narcotics, which were obtained from Mexican drug cartels. In return, the Urbinas provided protection, which sometimes came in the form of violence, for those they rented out to.

They allegedly relied on three suppliers, all from Camden, as well as two supervisors from Camden. The alleged suppliers were Rigo Bello, 39, Carlos Gonzalez, 35, and Danny Borges, 36, and all three remained fugitives on Thursday. They also used “case workers” who ran the day-to-day operations of the street level runners, dealers and lookouts.

William Lincoln, 36, of Sicklerville and Justin Henry, 26, of Woodbury, are among the 29 defendants charged with being street level runners, dealers and lookouts. They remain fugitives, according to Hoffman. Tyree Rozier, 22, of Pennsauken, was also charged in this category, but has been arrested. Of the other 26 defendants, 25 hail from Camden and the other hails from Darby, Pennsylvania.

Investigators seized $218,000 cash, six guns and over five ounces of cocaine after executing 13 search warrants as part of Operation North Pole, an investigation that lasted nine months.

The defendants who have been arrested have been lodged in Camden County Jail. Bail for the Urbinas is $1 million each, while bail for the others ranges from $100,000-$1 million.

All were charged with first-degree racketeering, third degree conspiracy and various forms of second or third-degree drug distribution charges.

The following agencies assisted in making arrests: FBI, Cherry Hill and Philadelphia Offices; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration/Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; New Jersey State Police; New Jersey State Parole Board; Camden County Prosecutor’s Office; Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office; Cherry Hill Police Department; Gloucester Township Police Department; Gloucester City Police Department; and the Evesham Township Police Department.