CNBNews

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (April 28, 2025)(CNBNews)--The Atlantic City Police Department has arrested seven men and charged them with first-degree narcotics distribution charges, resulting in the recovery of a significant number of drugs and the dismantling of two drug production facilities.

On February 20, 2025, Detectives Moustafa Maarouf and Jesse Oliver-Logan initiated an investigation after receiving information regarding Sefereno Castro selling heroin from a vehicle in Renaissance Plaza located in the 1500 block of Atlantic Avenue.

Detectives approached Castro after observing him engage in what they believed were drug transactions. Castro locked himself in his vehicle and refused to come out. After negotiations, Castro exited and was taken into custody. He was found in possession of 100 individual bags of heroin.

Detective Oliver-Logan utilized his narcotic-trained K9, Gee, who showed a positive indication of the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.
A court-authorized search warrant led to the discovery of an additional 905 individual bags of heroin, 64.5 grams of cocaine, 51 grams of PCP, a small amount of methamphetamine, and items used in the distribution of narcotics.

On March 4, a court-authorized search warrant on a motel room in the 3000 block of Pacific Avenue resulted in the arrest of five men. During the search, detectives located evidence of the manufacturing and distribution of drugs, almost 6 ounces of cocaine, 10 grams of unpackaged heroin, 111 individual bags of heroin, and small amounts of methamphetamine, mushrooms, and ecstasy.

On March 6, detectives of the Special Investigations Section were provided with information from Sergeant Brian Hambrecht that a vehicle was entering Atlantic City where the occupant was in possession of an illegal firearm. Detectives utilized the department’s automated license plate readers to determine when the vehicle entered the City, and were able to locate the vehicle on Pacific Avenue quickly.

Detectives were waiting for a marked patrol car to respond to conduct a motor vehicle stop when the driver, Michael Horton, parked the vehicle, left it running, and entered a motel in the beach block of Kentucky Avenue. Detectives approached Horton and attempted to have him return to his vehicle. Horton refused to acknowledge the detective’s orders and was taken into custody after initially resisting arrest. He was found to have several active warrants for his arrest and was in possession of small amounts of cocaine and heroin.

Horton had a room at the motel, which was searched after the issuance of a court-authorized search warrant. Inside the room, Horton had established a manufacturing facility where he was producing crack cocaine. Inside of Horton’s vehicle, detectives recovered a loaded handgun, 67 grams of cocaine, 150 individual bags of heroin, and items used in the distribution of narcotics.

The investigations were led by Detective Moustafa Maarouf.

ARRESTED: Serefeno Castro, 39, of Atlantic City.

CHARGES: Possession of CDS (seven counts), possession of CDS with intent to distribute (five counts), possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public zone (five counts), money laundering, obstruction of justice, and possession of CDS paraphernalia.

ARRESTED: Jose Perez, 28, of Pleasantville, NJ.

CHARGES: Maintaining a narcotic production facility, possession of CDS (four counts), possession of CDS with intent to distribute (two counts), money laundering, and possession of CDS paraphernalia.

ARRESTED: Dante Perez, 31, of Atlantic City.

CHARGES: Maintaining a narcotic production facility, possession of CDS (four counts), possession of CDS with intent to distribute (two counts), money laundering, and possession of CDS paraphernalia.

ARRESTED: Luis Rivas-Florian, 23, of Galloway, NJ.

CHARGES: Maintaining a narcotic production facility, possession of CDS (four counts), possession of CDS with intent to distribute (two counts), money laundering, and possession of CDS paraphernalia.

ARRESTED: Wayne Timms, 39, of Atlantic City.

CHARGES: Maintaining a narcotic production facility, possession of CDS (four counts), possession of CDS with intent to distribute (two counts), money laundering, and possession of CDS paraphernalia.

ARRESTED: Jean Luis Mesquita, 28, of Atlantic City.

CHARGES: Maintaining a narcotic production facility, possession of CDS (four counts), possession of CDS with intent to distribute (two counts), money laundering, and possession of CDS paraphernalia.

ARRESTED: Michael Horton, 32, of Mays Landing, NJ.

CHARGES: Maintaining a narcotic production facility, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon while committing a CDS offense, certain person not to possess a weapon, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of hollow-point ammunition, possession of CDS (two counts), possession of CDS with intent to distribute (two counts), possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public zone (two counts), money laundering, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of CDS paraphernalia, and refusal to submit to fingerprinting.

Each man was remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility. These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 609-347-5766 or submit a text anonymously to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD.