Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller has announced the arrest of a Secaucus resident for cocaine distribution. Miller says that in June 2025, the Secaucus Police Department’s Anti-Crime Unit received information that Mohamed Laib was distributing cocaine from his Paulanne Terrace residence. A seven month investigation followed. Miller says detectives from the Anti-Crime Unit surveilled Laib and observed him actively engaging in the illegal distribution of cocaine.
The investigation determined Laib was utilizing his residence to store cash proceeds derived from his illicit drug distribution scheme. The investigation also revealed Laib was utilizing his girlfriend’s residence, located on the 1400 block of Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen, as a location to store his cache of cocaine.
Chief Miller reports that on January 23, 2026, shortly after 7:00 P.M, detectives observed Laib engage in a drug transaction on Fairview Avenue in Secaucus with Steven Liptai. Both were found in possession of cocaine at the time they were stopped and both were placed under arrest.
Members of the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit, Detective and Patrol Divisions, Secaucus K-9 Unit and North Bergen Police Department conducted simultaneous court authorized searches of the residences located on Paulanne Terrace iand Paterson Plank Road.
Approximately $10,000.00 was seized from the Paulanne Terrace residence. Additionally, a large quantity of suspected cocaine and paraphernalia indicative of an illicit drug distribution were recovered from the Paterson Plank Road residence along with additional cash believed to have been derived from nefarious activity. As a result of these searches, an aggregate quantity of approximately 100 grams of suspected cocaine was seized along with a total of $11,307.00 in cash. Furthermore, Laib’s girlfriend, Chelsey Albuja was arrested subsequent to the search of her North Bergen residence.
Laib, age 34, has been charged with two counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine within 1,000 feet of a School, Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine within 500 feet of a Public Park, two counts of Possession of CDS, two counts of Money Laundering and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia.
Meanwhile, the 25-year old Albuja was charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine within 500 feet of a Public Park, Possession of CDS and Money Laundering.
Laib and Albuja were taken to the Hudson County Jail. The 51-year old Liptai of Secaucus was charged with Possession of CDS and released on a summons, pending his appearance in Court.
Chief Miller issued the following statement; “The Anti-Crime Unit is committed to investigating nefarious activity that affects the quality of life of the residents Secaucus. My detectives have my authorization and support to conduct investigations, regardless of what locale it may take them, to foster a complete and thorough investigation, as is evidenced by this case. The dedication to this endeavor by the members of the Anti-Crime Unit is evident and I am proud of their investigative work. I also want to also thank the North Bergen Police Department for their assistance throughout this investigation.”
The charges in this case are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Tips can be made by calling (201) 330-2049, emailed to spdtips@secaucusnjpolice.gov or submitted anonymously through the department’s website at www.secaucuspolice.org.