Pubdate: Fri, 27 Oct 2000
Source: Bergen Record (NJ)
Copyright: 2000 Bergen Record Corp.
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Website: http://www.bergen.com/
Author: Nicole Gaudiano, Staff Writer, FORT LEE POLICE SEIZE HALF-TON OF MARIJUANA, ARREST 3 SUSPECTS

In what Fort Lee police called one of their largest seizures in recent
memory, a 1,000-pound load of marijuana was seized and three men
arrested at a local shopping center Thursday.

Those arrested included Michael Coleman, 37, of Hackensack, who is
accused of driving a tractor-trailer that toted the drugs.

Coleman posed as a trucker, mixing a load of Mexican furniture with 16
cardboard boxes filled with marijuana, said Fort Lee police Lt.
William Cullen.

Police and Drug Enforcement Administration agents also arrested Norman
Laing, 39, of Bay Shore, N.Y., and Devon McKenzie, 40, of Chicago.

The U.S. Attorney's Office will prosecute the three on federal drug
distribution charges, police said.

"It's probably one of the largest [seizures] I've been involved in, if
not the largest in my 20 years as a police officer," Cullen said.

Working on a tip, authorities began watching the Peterbilt
tractor-trailer around 11:30 a.m. at the Plaza West Shopping Center on
Bergen Boulevard. Over two hours, Coleman made several calls from a
cellular telephone, they said.

About 2 p.m., police said, Laing and McKenzie pulled into the parking
lot in a rented Chevrolet Blazer.

When the three met at the back of the truck, a team of about 10 law
enforcement officers moved in.

"We were pretty much able to confront them and take them into custody
without incident," Cullen said.

Authorities found the marijuana in airtight, one- and two-pound
packages, he said.

The shipment could have fetched from $500,000 wholesale to up to $1
million retail.

Based on gas station receipts, police believe Coleman may have picked
up his shipment in Arizona. The truck was being subleased by Cross
Island Trucking from a company owned by Laing, Massive Trucking of Bay
Shore, N.Y.

Authorities were still investigating each defendant's alleged level of
involvement. All three were being held without bail pending
arraignment in U.S. District Court in Newark.
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