An investigation started earlier this year culminated last week in the arrest of an alleged area cocaine dealer, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Giddel Gonzalez Estrada, 37, of Broadway in Long Branch, 37, was arrested inside a Morris Avenue garage last Wednesday afternoon and charged with: first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute (more than 5 ounces), second-degree possession of a weapon while in the course of committing a CDS offense.

Estrada was also charged with 42 counts of combined third-degree crimes,  including: possession of cocaine, distribution of cocaine, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school zone.

Detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Gang and Criminal Enterprise Unit and its Narcotics Strike Force executed search warrants at apartments at 494 Broadway and 407 Morris Avenue, both in Long Branch.

Seized at the two locations were: three vehicles, about $32,000 in cash, approximately 500 grams of cocaine with a street value of about $50,000, a small amount of marijuana, a .22 caliber handgun, and large amounts of packaging, weighing materials and various paraphernalia used for the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics.

If convicted of first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, Estrada faces up to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison. If convicted of any of the second-degree charges, he faces a sentence of five to 10 years in prison on each count. If convicted of any of the third degree offenses, Estrada faces a sentence of three to five years in prison.

Anyone is information about this investigation is urged to contact Detective Fil Lao of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443.