◾NJ K-9 helps search for huge illegal drug stash

◾Cocaine, oxycodone and illegal marijuana worth over a million dollars

◾New Jersey man faces nearly 20 charges

HAMILTON (Mercer) – A 35-year-old township man was arrested after a police dog helped police locate more than $1 million worth of illegal drugs at two locations in Mercer County.

The months-long investigation into cocaine trafficking in Hamilton Township also yielded five handguns and $65,000 in cash, Mercer County Deputy District Attorney Theresa Hilton said.

James Nalbone Jr. was arrested Aug. 7 after a search of his Byron Avenue home turned up six kilograms of suspected cocaine, 130 pounds of suspected marijuana, 2,000 suspected oxycodone pills, as well as guns and money, Hilton said.

After searching Nalbone’s car, a Lincoln MKZ, police found documents for renting a storage unit in the defendant’s name.

In the storage unit on Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton, investigators found another 12 kilograms of cocaine, 20 pounds of marijuana and a large quantity of edible cannabis.

The total street value of the seized cocaine was about $630,000, Hilton said, while the marijuana was worth $450,000 and the oxycodone pills totaled $22,500.

Nalbone was charged with money laundering and 18 different drug and weapons offenses.

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