Feds seize 20kg of fentanyl, arrest trucker near N.J. rest stop

Two men are in federal custody after they were allegedly caught with more than 40 pounds of an opioid up to 50 times more powerful than heroin.

Luis Aponte, 48, and Denny Diaz, 29, were charged with one count of conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced Monday.

The men were spotted Friday at a rest stop in Bloomsbury, Carpenito said in a statement. I-78 cuts through the northern end of town.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents saw Aponte, of Hesperia, California, park a tractor trailer at the rest stop and staying until Saturday, a charging document says.

That day, the agents saw Aponte — with a backpack on — get into a white Jeep driven by Diaz, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As the Jeep pulled away, tailing agents saw Aponte take a plastic bag out of the backpack and put it behind the driver’s seat. The Jeep then pulled onto the shoulder before law enforcement approached.

The Jeep was searched and the agents found about seven kilograms of fentanyl in the plastic bag, along with $17,000 in cash in the backpack. They arrested Diaz and Aponte, who later waived his Miranda rights and said he had more drugs in the tractor trailer. Agents searched the truck cab and a refrigerator on board and found another 13 kilograms of fentanyl and five of heroin.

Aponte and Diaz made initial court appearances in Newark federal court Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Dickson. They were held without bail.

If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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