TruckingIndustry.news

New Jersey Focuses On Truck Inspections As First Line Defense Against Opioid Crisis

by Jana Ritter - Published: 3/20/2017

Trucks traveling on Interstate 78 between New Jersey and Pennsylvania are getting more thorough inspections as part of New Jersey’s first line of defense against the state's opioid drug epidemic. A simple problem with a driver’s logbook or any suspicion by the officer is enough to lead to a deeper inspection.

                                                               New Jersey cracking down on truck inspections

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While only a fraction of the truck inspections conducted by the state police’s mobile safe freight unit each year turn up drugs, officials say it’s still a major part of cutting into the supply side of a drug epidemic that claimed more than 1,500 lives in 2015. One highway weigh station at the Greenwich Township stop has already taken more than 100 kilograms of heroin out of drug distribution networks last year and confiscated 27 kilograms of cocaine and 1,054 pounds of pot. Police estimate the drugs’ total value was more than $21 million and that it's more than six times the amount seized in the previous four years combined.

                                                               I-78 Greenwich Township weigh station

“This is the supply side of the distribution chain and it’s very important that we act as a deterrent for what comes into this state in the illicit drug trade. We’re talking about the integrity of the trucking industry here and rooting out those individuals that are using the trucking industry to engage in the illicit narcotics trade,” says Col. Rick Fuentes, the head of the state police. The Drug Enforcement Administration says the country’s interstate highway system plays a major role in getting drugs from Mexico to urban centers and the trucks stopped on I-78 are often headed to drug houses in New York to be repacked for sale on the street.

                                                                Police seize drugs from trucks                                                                

State Trooper James Agens has been awarded for making two of the busts at the Greenwich Township weigh station last year. He explains how during one stop he became suspicious when he noticed the driver had two cellphones and that one wouldn’t stop ringing. Then he noticed log book discrepancies, which further prompted him to search the truck. Him and his partner found four boxes that didn’t match the rest of the cargo and sure enough the boxes contained 64 kilograms of powdered heroin and another 10 kilograms of cocaine. “I am sure for every one that we get there are probably 20 plus that go by us,” says Agens.

New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino says the job being done by state police is one of the answers to stop the drug supply coming into the community and destroying lives. “When you look at an operation like this, you say it’s really searching for a needle in a haystack, but because it’s connected to the rest of our operations, there’s intelligence that flows through this stop as well,” he says. 

“The truckers need to know that we’re inspecting with the most aggressive means possible. And we’re making a lot of stops and a lot of arrests.”


Paul Recklein
Paul Recklein
They need to focus on parking areas ... They have very minimal...With the amount of freight that goes to the north east via there fine state ...That should be THE MAIN CONCERN ..I GET IT THAT YOUR DOING YOUR JOBS but we also are trying to do ours
Mike Brinson
Mike Brinson
They don't give a shit if we have parking.
Jeff Funk
Jeff Funk
It's all about money
Grizzly Siemietkowski
Grizzly Siemietkowski
Glad to be retired after 44 years OTR all this bs going on getting into the pockets that feed them it's all about money 💰 should be more concerned about all the idiots the big companies are unleashing on the hwys steering wheel holders are not Truckers! Real truckers are safe reliable self thinking there lawyers mechanics salesmen and are allways professional
Tarver R Mcknight Jr
Tarver R Mcknight Jr
Not TRUE...SO NOT TRUE!!!
Charles Watkins
Charles Watkins
And that's why I don't go to new York or new jersey. All they care about is raping all drivers .not the bad ones all of them. Let me starve
Chris Sawyer
Chris Sawyer
If they could only convince the New Jersey truck drivers that after the sun rises, that they don't have to plug up the center lane and drop below the speed limit and stay there irregardless of the availability of the right lane( the granny lane in the other 49 states) to drag their ass in....would be very helpful..also, lane monsters aren't real...
Juan Aguirre
Juan Aguirre
A whole bunch of NJ truck drivers don't care...they're down right rude...and aggressive...bad combo...
James Canady
James Canady
That isn't just a nj thing...
Gail Daugherty
Gail Daugherty
Staying totally in the right lane (granny lane) can actually be more dangerous then hogging up the middle or 2nd lane. When that ramp traffic forgets they DON'T have the right of way and just come on out into the flow of traffic whether it's clear or not....well I think you get the picture
Dave Gubala
Dave Gubala
What school did they teach you that Gail?
Bill Fields
Bill Fields
Dave, she is totally correct.
Ira Jaffe
Ira Jaffe
That's exactly what the insurance companies are teaching through the Smith System. It's called the path of least resistance.
Kenny Edinger
Kenny Edinger
They are mostly immigrants with fake licenses that pull cans out of the ports up north
Chris Sawyer
Chris Sawyer
Kenny Edinger Containertards??say it ain't so...
Al Reigert
Al Reigert
Notice they aren't stopping the junk pulling containers
Kenny Edinger
Kenny Edinger
Cause they know they won't get no money out of them cause they got none
Bobby Shane Eustice
Bobby Shane Eustice
Well i can tell half you dummy didn't read article it about stopping drug trafficker. Unless you mad because your doing it.
Bobby Hall
Bobby Hall
Just remember this is not about safety. All about the money.
Gail Daugherty
Gail Daugherty
When I say I stay in the 2nd lane....that's only thru cities that have 3 or more lanes. I'm not fighting 4 wheelers and truckers who think it's my job to let them on the interstate and ignore the fact that that Yield sign is for them..not us. Now if there c are only 2 lanes...well I suckered it up since chances are pretty good I can't stay with the flow of traffic in the passing lane
Chris Petty
Chris Petty
I don't know what having two cell phones has to do with anything. I have two. One personal and one for business.
Gail Daugherty
Gail Daugherty
You are an exception. ... it is a proven fact that most drug dealers carry more then one phone. I've had a drug dealer or 2 in my family and they had more then 2....for multiple drug deals and then the personal one that wife, husband or kids could call on ;-)
Chris Petty
Chris Petty
Gail Daugherty I suppose that makes sense
M Scott Helms
M Scott Helms
Y'all have fun with that... I won't set foot, or tire, in NJ or NY...
Joelyne Schenk-Boardman
Joelyne Schenk-Boardman
So, now they are profiling truckers? I agree trucks have been and are a means of transporting drugs around the country. Not all of us truckers are dumb enough to do this. Remember, it's not just trucks. Cars, pickups, vans, motorcycles, and buses are transporting also.
Dave Brendel
Dave Brendel
But let the overweight tri axles run up down the highway wrecking everyday
Gerald Richards
Gerald Richards
If only this was about safety and not about making money for lawenforcement. It would be great.
Charlie Downs
Charlie Downs
Fuck you NJ starve
Denzlo Hagerty
Denzlo Hagerty
All about revenue.
Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson
Just excuses yet they won't target busses
Dean P Contreras
Dean P Contreras
Like we need another reason to Hate NJ !
Jeffrey Smith
Jeffrey Smith
We serve to collect! Not to protect!!
Brad Donovan
Brad Donovan
Well I am glad I don't go that far East I got 2 phones
James G McCreight
James G McCreight
Kill your local heroin dealer
Jim Rigney
Jim Rigney
Screw nj
Patrick Porter
Patrick Porter
Let's not drive there...Starve bitch!!
Eric Romain
Eric Romain
Dont give a shit i dont go there anymore.
Jeff Yoder
Jeff Yoder
Big bad Po Po!! Im scared. Fuck off!
Harry Douglas Price
Harry Douglas Price
Cool Swift drivers beware !!! Lol
Samuel Lee
Samuel Lee
Immigrants are where the mules are ....
Bruce Kallenbach
Bruce Kallenbach
Keep up the good work you guys!
Joda Nesmith
Joda Nesmith
Need good news Karen Williams Kelly
Davey Sanders
Davey Sanders
Ricky Crews