“Operation Forefathers” results in 27 arrests and drug seizures in Cape May and Cumberland Counties

The following press release was published by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration on Sept. 12, 2018. It is reproduced in full below.

Cape May Court House, N.J. - Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division Valerie A. Nickerson, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner, and Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae are announcing the conclusion of "Operation Forefathers," a large scale narcotics investigation initiated by the Cape May and Atlantic County Prosecutor's Offices and the DEA.

During the early morning hours of Sept. 11, 2018, SWAT teams from numerous law enforcement agencies executed a total of 16 search warrants in Cape May and Cumberland County which concluded a two-month long narcotics investigation into the distribution of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, prescription pills and marijuana. This investigation was centered in the Woodbine and Millville, New Jersey areas. During the course of this investigation, it was determined that Harold Santiago, George Williams, Tracey Kluska and Isiah Fitzpatrick were the leaders of this large scale drug distribution network.

As a result of this investigation, 27 individuals were arrested and 13 vehicles were seized along with approximately 6,540 bags of suspected heroin, six ounces of suspected methamphetamine, two ounces of suspected raw heroin and numerous pounds of marijuana. Also seized was in excess of $30,000 in US currency, two semiautomatic handguns and one shotgun. The suspected heroin has an approximate street value of $77,000 and the suspected methamphetamine has an approximate street value of $16,000. Additional residential and vehicle search warrants may be executed as a result of this investigation.

This is an ongoing investigation and additional individuals may be arrested and charged. Prosecutor Sutherland urges anyone with information regarding this narcotics distribution investigation to contact the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office at 609-465-1135 or anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriff's Tip line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800.

Prosecutors Sutherland, Tyner, Webb-McRae and SAC Nickerson commend all the outstanding efforts and the hard work of all the law enforcement agencies listed below who assisted with this investigation, especially Lieutenant Dan Holt, Detective Maurice Catarcio, and Assistant Prosecutor Alex Settle of the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office, Detective Chad Meyers of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, and Special Agent Frank Deerr of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Atlantic City Resident Office.

Cape May County Prosecutor's Office

Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office

Drug Enforcement Administration

Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office

Ocean County Prosecutor's Office

Millville Police Department

New Jersey State Police

Cape May County Sheriff's Department

Cumberland County Sheriff's Department

Middle Township Police Department

Atlantic City Police Department

Wildwood Crest Police Department