A police dog sniffed out tens of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine inside a car and a pair of New York men were arrested early Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The men, Elmer Gonzalez and Elmy Lombert, both of the Bronx, were charged with numerous drug counts, including possession and intent to distribute after Jersey City police found nearly 9 pounds of cocaine in the vehicle, according to police and court records.

According to law enforcement officials, the street value of 9 pounds of cocaine, or 4 kilograms, is roughly $90,000 to $120,000.

Bail for the two men was set at $250,000 each, cash or bond, and they were ordered to surrender all travel documents. Both Gonzalez and Lombert are from the Dominican Republic, court officials said.

On Tuesday night at 7:50, Jersey City police spotted the men in a car parked in the area of Johnston and Grand streets. A man with a square package got out of a car parked behind Gonzalez and Lombert and walked over to the other car, police said.

The man then walked back to his car without the package.
Police followed Gonzalez and Lombert and pulled them over at Communipaw Avenue and Route 440, and with permission conducted a search of the vehicle, police said. A Port Authority police officer with his K9 Cedo joined the search and Cedo indicated a positive "hit" for drugs in the car.

Jersey City police then got a search warrant and at 1:30 Wednesday morning found the 4 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a secret cargo compartment of the car, police said. Police also said they recovered more than $1,200 in suspected drug proceeds, three cell phones and numerous rubber bands "commonly used for narcotics and proceeds packaging."


Jonathan Lin/The Jersey Journal