Cranford Police Link Heroin Distribution Ring to Retford Avenue Burglary

Cranford Police have linked members of a suspected heroin distribution ring to a January break-in on Retford Avenue where perpetrators netted $1,500 worth of property, according to  CPD press release issued yesterday.

Three local men have been arrested for the Retford break-in, charged with burglary and theft on Feb. 11; Cranford residents Sean Ousterman, 19, Cenk Esendemir, 20 and Joseph Caiafa, 20.

Police also arrested and penned heroin distribution charges on Robert Maurer, age 19, of Cranford and Ahmed Mohktar, 20, of Garwood on Feb. 10. Additional undercover surveillance on Feb. 17, 2011 led to the stop and arrest of James Mattis, age 20, of Cranford, for alleged heroin and marijuana possession.

The arrests stem from a two-month-long burglary investigation by the Cranford Police Department where detectives "identified several suspects and initiated a detailed investigation," according to the press release. 

The investigation continues as Cranford detectives investigate other possible links between the arrested parties and other residential burglaries occurring in Cranford over the past 2-3 months.

Cranford Police Chief Eric G. Mason commended the detectives involved, adding that he was not surprised that narcotics distribution was a factor in the burglaries. 

“Drugs are a serious problem in and of themselves, but unfortunately they bring a host of equally serious problems with them,” he said in the release.  “The Cranford Police Department will aggressively and tirelessly prosecute drug offenders for the benefit of all Cranford residents.”