Pharmaceutical Diversion: New Jersey has the highest concentration of pharmaceutical and chemical firms in the country. Doctor shopping, prescription forgery, and organized script rings remain the prevalent source of diverted legitimate pharmaceutical drugs in the New Jersey Division. Morris County has seen a rise in arrests for prescription fraud and unlawful possession of prescription medication. The most commonly abused pharmaceuticals are Percocet, OxyContin, Xanax, Vicodin/Vicodin ES, and Hydrocodone/Hydrocodone products. Additionally, the most commonly abused chemicals are GBL, Pseudoephedrine, and Ephedrine.
- In September, New Jersey Division, FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration’s office of criminal investigations seized a steroid lab in a Sayreville basement that produced “massive quantities” of the illegal drugs. The individual who operated the lab out of his house, on a quiet residential cul-de-sac, was arrested and charged with manufacturing, possessing and distributing anabolic steroids. A search of the lab resulted in the seizure of 1.5 kilograms of raw steroid powders, about 10,000 steroid tablets, $56,000 USC, more than 40,000 doses of anabolic steroids, various chemicals including stanozolol, testosterone and nandrolone, equipment used to mix and produce the muscle-building drugs, and two semi-automatic weapons.
- In September 2007, a Randolph, NJ podiatric surgeon and his wife were arrested on drug distribution charges. The doctor, also a registered pharmacist, had issued 31 prescriptions for painkillers and mild tranquilizers as a method of payment, for work performed for the doctor.
- In October 2007, “Operation Redirect” resulted in the arrests of 87 people and the disruption of a drug trafficking network that distributed cocaine and oxycodone in and around Morris County.
