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42 Indicted In Camden Drug Bust

By Dan Wing

CAMDEN, N.J., (CBS) -- New Jersey's Acting Attorney General has released an indictment charging 42 people with first-degree racketeering as part of a violent drug ring that was brought down in November of last year after 20 years of running some of the most lucrative drug markets in Camden.

The indictment alleges that the drug distribution network was headed up by three brothers, 40-year old Omar Urbina Sr. of Philadelphia, 38-year-old Edwin Urbina of Camden, and 35-year-old Edward Urbina, also of Camden. The trio allegedly used connections to Mexican Cartels, and violent enforcers to run two busy open-air drug markets for cocaine and heroin at 4th and York Streets and 3rd and Erie Streets in North Camden. The group would also "rent out" other areas of the city to other drug dealers. Attorney General John Hoffman says this was a complex, and well organized drug empire.

"From the leaders of the group down to the people that supervise some of the street dealers, down to the street dealers, certainly included some of the suppliers. I believe in this case we had three major suppliers. So this is a very complex group selling, I would say, probably at least a million dollars worth of illegal narcotics every month," Hoffman said.

Hoffman says no option was off the table if the Urbinas wanted to send a message, or maintain their power in Camden.

"By shooting, by beating, by using tremendously violent methods. They're a nasty group, and they used every possible avenue, every possible method, to make sure they maintained control over the street corners they occupied," Hoffman said.

Hoffman says detectives executed over a dozen search warrants during the investigation, which was dubbed 'Operation North Pole.' A number of law enforcement agencies in New Jersey helped in the investigation, as did the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, ATF, US Marshals, and the D.E.A.

Those search warrants led to authorities seizing more than $218,000 in cash, six guns, more than 10 vehicles including a party bus, and a large quantity of cocaine.

If convicted, the Urbina brothers face life in prison. Fourteen defendants have already pleaded guilty, and face time behind bars in connection to the case, bringing the total number of people charged in 'Operation North Pole' to 56.

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