Tuesday, September 29, 2026 · Serving all of Hudson County since March 2011Third Suspect Arrested in Bayonne Heroin, Cocaine Operation
Bayonne Police Captain Eric Amato reports that a third suspect has been arrested in connection with a narcotics distribution ring. That person, found with two loaded guns — all thanks…
Bayonne Police Captain Eric Amato reports that a third suspect has been arrested in connection with a narcotics distribution ring. That person, found with two loaded guns — all thanks to concerned citizens, police said.
According to Captain Amato, the scenario began on June 3. That’s when residents living near West 21st Street tipped off the Police Department that suspicious activity was taking place. During an investigation, police witnessed Jersey City residents William J. Kenny, age 25, and Jovan V. Taylor, also 25, performing several drug deals.
Amato says the suspects then got into a car driven by 34-year old, Hakeem D. Lester, of Bayonne. Detectives stopped the car, retrieved the cocaine, the heroin, 38 pills of a prescription legend drug (PLD), along with $1,501 in suspected drug money from Taylor, and 11 pills of a PLD from Kenny.
Captain Amato adds that Kenny and Taylor were charged accordingly for the drug possession, with Kenny also being issued an arrest warrant for a firearm out of Ocean County. The vehicle used to hide the drugs was also retrieved by law enforcement authorities and impounded.
Amato says that a 9mm, semi-automatic handgun loaded with an 8-round magazine which had been stolen out of Florida, plus a 9mm semi-automatic handgun which had been defaced and was loaded with a partially loaded 30-round magazine, were also found in the vehicle, Amato said.
While Lester didn’t have any drugs on him at the time of the incident, Amato says he was seen getting into the car that was being used to stash the narcotics.
Finally, two nights ago, on Wednesday, June 15, at approximately 10:40 p.m., Bayonne Police observed Lester near 19th Street and Kennedy Boulevard. He was taken into custody. Amato adds that Lester “tossed a baggie of Xanax and tried stepping on it.”
Lester was charged with a shopping list of drug distribution and weapons offenses. Captain Amato thanks the residents who contacted the police and provided valuable information, which ultimately resulted in the arrests described above.