Crime & Safety

Philly Men Charged with Possessing 23 Pounds of Marijuana

Charged with possession and distribution after traffic stop on Route 37, near Mule Road

Two Philadelphia men were arrested on Route 37 in Toms River and charged with marijuana possession and distribution, after investigators allegedly found 23 pounds of the drug, valued at $90,000 in a Jeep Cherokee the men were driving, officials said.

The traffic stop came Sept. 29 near the Mule Road intersection of Route 37, according to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, who said they identified a 1998 Jeep Cherokee “as being utilized by two Philadelphia men to transport CDS [controlled dangerous substances], specifically a large quantity of marijuana,” said Captain Jack Sramaty in a release. “The seized marijuana has an approximate street value of $90,000.”

Arrested and charged were Luan Mac and Paul Diep, both 50, of Philadelphia.

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Mac was charged with possession of marijuana over fifty grams and possession of marijuana over five pounds with intent to distribute. Bail for was set by Judge Stephanie M. Wauters at $100,000 no ten percent.

Diep, also known as “Ky” Diep was charged with possession of marijuana over fifty grams and possession of marijuana over five pounds with intent to distribute. Bail was set by Judge Wauters at $100,000 no ten percent.

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Sramaty said the investigation was organized between United States Postal Inspection Service, the Ocean County Sheriffs Department K-9 Unit and


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