Orange Police Director Charles Cobbertt yesterday announced the arrest of nine people during a weeklong crackdown that is part of a continuing effort to rid the city of drugs.

"Narcotics is one of our biggest problems," Cobbertt said. "We're cleaning the streets up the best way we can and we're also letting the pushers know that if they come to Orange, the chances of them getting caught are great."

During sweeps conducted between Sept. 5 and Sept. 9 in conjunction with the Essex County Sheriff Office's Bureau of Narcotics and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, police confiscated $8,000 worth of cocaine and arrested two people at their home and seven others on the streets, he said.

Dwayne Jones, 27, and pamela Jones, 27, of 425 Central Ave., were arrested and charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, and possession of cocaine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school.

Cobbertt said the raid was the result of a monthlong investigation conducted by Lt. Benson Piserchio and Detectives Steve Crumpton, Anthony Carpiniello, Michael Gannon and Edgar Pinckney of the Orange Police Department with the assistance of county detectives.

He said seven others were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with an intent to sell during street sweeps.

They were identified as: Craig Coleman, 22, of South Center Street, arrested at 97 Wilson Place; Kenneth Dill, 27, of Laffen, Bermuda, arrested at Oakwood Avenue and Hampton Terrace; George Mero, 26, of Stuyvesant Avenue in Irvington, arrested at Central Avenue and South Center Street; Chester Gordon, 35, of Halsted Street in East Orange, arrested at Oakwood Avenue and Brywn Street; Maurice Hocker, 30, of Hayward Street, arrested at Freeway and Oakwood avenues; Andrew Lavine, 20, of Holland Avenue, arrested on Central Avenue, and Kevin Meadows, 20, of Valley Road in West Orange, arrested at Central and Lincoln avenues.

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“Reach Back with One Hand and Pull Someone Else Up With You.”

– Charles C. Cobbertt

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