The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is the hosting component of the Essex Narcotics Task Force. The Task Force was organized in 1987 as a multi-jurisdictional operation, and is responsible for the investigation of middle and upper level narcotics distribution cases. The Task Force approach resulted from the Statewide Action Plan for Narcotics Enforcement of 1987, which set forth a comprehensive approach to attack the drug abuse epidemic. The publication of the Attorney General's 1993 Statewide Narcotics Action Plan recognized that diverse approaches to this crisis were necessary to continue a coordinated, cooperative and comprehensive approach to drug law enforcement. Certain areas of Essex County contain both a relatively large distributor population and a significant user population. The most commonly sold and abused drugs in Essex County continue to be heroin, cocaine (including crack), and marijuana. Within the past decade, drug traffickers in Essex County have resorted more frequently to the use of violence to further their criminal operations. Therefore, the Task Force approach is now targeted at middle and upper level drug traffickers in Essex County, as opposed to short-term investigations aimed at lower level traffickers.

The increased involvement of organized youth gangs in narcotics related activities in Essex County over the past few years has resulted in a high level of interaction between members of the Prosecutor's Gang Intelligence Unit and members of the Narcotics Task Force. As a result of this interaction and in order to efficiently maximize limited resources, former Acting Prosecutor Campolo merged the Gang Intelligence Unit into the Narcotics Task Force in October 2001.

In 2008, as part of the Governor’s Crime Strategy Plan, the Gang Intelligence Unit was merged with the Narcotics Task Force to become the V.I.P.E.R. Unit (Violence Interdiction/Intelligence Prosecution Eradication Recidivism Unit). The new unit, consisting presently of a Director, 3 Assistant Prosecutors, 12 Detectives and Lieutenant, and operating a daytime and evening shift, targets and prioritizes the most violent offender zones; gathers intelligence of confiscated firearms and enters ballistics into the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (NIBIN System); coordinates intelligence led policing strategies in cease fire grid areas with Newark and Irvington law enforcement officials; and conducts warrant roundups of wanted targets of gang violence, narcotics and firearm offenses in high crime ridden areas. In addition, the V.I.P.E.R. Unit coordinates daily with the Newark and East Orange Police Intelligence Units, the Essex County Corrections Department, neighboring outside police departments, and County Prosecutors’ violent drug and gang task forces.

The prosecutors of the VIPER Unit vertically prosecute all cases initiated by VIPER detectives. The VIPER prosecutors also review all narcotics and gang-related search warrants and provide legal advice to outside law enforcement agencies on the narcotics and gang issues. In 2010, VIPER prosecutors reviewed over 700 search warrants.

The V.I.P.E.R. Unit is supported, in large part, by federal grant funds administered by the State of New Jersey. The Unit is staffed, at present time, by County Detectives led by a Lieutenant, other state and local law enforcement officers, an Assistant Prosecutor/Director, three Assistant Prosecutors, and clerical support staff. The Unit is engaged in long term undercover operations targeting upper level drug dealers. In addition, the Unit conducts street level initiatives in Irvington, East Orange and Orange that are geared toward improving quality of life in designated high narcotics crime areas of those municipalities. The Unit also interacts with the DEA, U.S. Customs, U.S. Postal Inspectors and the Port Authority Police in order to interdict drugs being transported through Newark Airport and by means of the mail and private package delivery services.

2010 Achievements:

In 2010, the VIPER Unit initiated 186 investigations which culminated in 521 arrests. VIPER Unit investigations resulted in the seizure of over 8 kilograms (more than 16 pounds) of cocaine, more than 10 kilograms of heroin and more than 25 pounds of marijuana. VIPER Unit investigations also resulted in the seizure of ecstasy pills, anabolic steroids and a large quantity of prescription drugs. The approximate street value of the narcotics seized by the VIPER Unit in 2010 is $275,000 for cocaine, $1,060,000 for heroin and $ 35,000 for marijuana. VIPER Unit personnel also seized over $188,000 in currency from drug dealers in 2010. VIPER Unit personnel also seized 42 firearms in 2010, including 9 assault firearms. This number is significant given the fact that the VIPER Unit operates with a relatively small number of personnel. Additionally, given the increase in violent crime in Essex County, removal of illegal firearms from the streets is a very important step forward in the effort by law enforcement to reduce violent crime. The VIPER Unit obtained and executed more than 40 search warrants in 2010.

In 2010, the VIPER Unit conducted a number of successful investigations, including:

OPERATION SUMMER SWEEP - This was an initiative developed by the Attorney General and Prosecutor to conduct warrant round-ups of violent fugitives in Essex County. Detectives assigned to the Intelligence section prepared comprehensive work-ups on violent fugitives and the detectives of the VIPER Unit then set out to apprehend the wanted individuals. The operation was successful and resulted in the arrest of 223 felons.

OPERATION BORDERLINE- This was a joint investigation with the East Orange AND Newark Police Departments focusing on street level narcotics distribution on the East Orange and Newark border. This operation was extremely successful. More than 30 persons were arrested and the arrestees are being prosecuted by the VIPER assistant prosecutors. By the end of 2010, 17 of the defendants had pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to custodial terms. An additional 8 defendants have been indicted and the cases are pending. The remaining defendants were either prosecuted in family (juvenile) or municipal courts.

GANG INTELLIGENCE: One mission of the VIPER Unit is to gather intelligence on gang activity and identify gang members in Essex County. The Intelligence section of the VIPER Unit serves as a free-standing unit, consisting of a lieutenant and detectives that collects and analyzes criminal information and data. This process is extremely beneficial in identifying criminal organizations in Essex County and also in determining criminal trends. This criminal intelligence is disseminated to the other investigative units of the Prosecutor's Office and other Essex County law enforcement agencies.

The three largest gangs operating in Essex County are the The Bloods, The Crips, and The Almighty Latin King Nation (Latin Kings, ALKQN). There are also a number of other Latin gangs, namely the Netas, MS-13, "Trinitarios" and "Dominicans Don't Play" (DDP). The Bloods and the Crips consist of numerous "sets" or "sub-groups."
Essex County law enforcement has identified several "Super-Gangs" within the County. Within the Crips, the "Super-Gangs" are the: Grape Street, Hoover 52, Hoover 74, Rolling 60's and Playboy sets. The "Super-Gangs" within the Bloods include the 793, G-shine, Brick City Brims, 464 Mob Insane Mob Piru, 662 MOB Piru, 252 SMM and Double II sets. Criminal intelligence developed by VIPER Unit detectives has indicated that there are a number of conflicts between rival Bloods sets. These conflicts often result in violence.

There are approximately 3200 documented gang members in Essex County. Gang membership also appears to be increasing annually. The lure of fast cash and the protection afforded by gang membership are among the reasons for increase in gang membership. The glamorization of gang life in popular culture and mass media outlets (films, music etc.) is also a contributing factor in gang membership.

The main gang-related criminal activity in Essex County is the distribution of narcotics. "Drug-dealing" is a cash business and lure fast cash entices a number of younger citizens to join gangs. The cash generated from narcotics distribution is also used for bail money and attorneys fees by gang members. There are a number of "open-air" drug markets within Essex County and the easy accessibility to the major cities provides a strong customer base. Drug areas are controlled by various gang sets and violence often occurs when a rival gang attempts to move into another gang's territory. Home invasion robberies, extortion, mortgage fraud and the sale of counterfeit DVDs, CDs and clothing are other areas of criminal activity perpetrated by criminal street gangs in Essex County. Gang members will often "launder" the proceeds of these illegal activities into "seemingly" legitimate businesses.

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