A two-month investigation into cocaine trafficking in Trenton led to the arrest of a Brooklyn man and the seizure of cocaine valued at around $100,000.
Paul Shirley, 51, was taken into custody on June 4 after a joint investigation by the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, assisted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and police departments in Ewing, Hamilton, and Trenton, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey.
Around 2:15 p.m., detectives spotted Shirley driving a silver Toyota Camry with New York plates near Brunswick Avenue and Race Street in Trenton.
After pulling the vehicle over, Sgt. Tom Paglione noticed an open compartment in the center console—one often used to hide drugs. Officers detained Shirley without incident. Sgt. Paglione’s K-9 partner, Indy, performed an exterior sniff of the vehicle and signaled the presence of narcotics. Police then secured the car to await a search warrant.
Upon executing the warrant, detectives uncovered roughly one kilogram of suspected cocaine hidden under the driver’s seat.
Shirley faces first-degree charges for possession and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Following a detention hearing, a judge released him pending future court appearances.
Prosecutor Marbrey stated the seized cocaine carried an estimated street value of $100,000.
