Crime & Safety

250 Bags of Heroin Seized in I-78 Traffic Stop, Authorities Say

Two Phillipsburg residents arrested, one held in county jail.

Two Phillipsburg residents were arrested Tuesday on multiple drug-related charges after 250 bags of heroin, a marijuana cigarette and other drug paraphernalia were found during a motor vehicle stop on Interstate 78 in Bernards Township, county and township authorities said.

Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano and Bernards Township Police Chief Brian Bobowicz announced the arrests of Matthew Castiglia, 27, and Christine Synnott, 26, of Phillipsburg.

According to the county prosecutor's office, at about 3:46 p.m. Tuesday afternoon the chief pulled over a 2001 Hyundai Accent being driven by Synnott along I-78 after the vehicle allegedly was impeding traffic by failing to keep right.

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During the stop, with Castiglia as a front seat passenger, Bobowicz and Bernards Township Patrol Officer Alex McKnight reportedly detected an odor of burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle.

While speaking with the occupants, police said they observed drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. According to the prosecutor's office, Castiglia gave McKnight a partially smoked marijuana cigarette.

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Authorities say that Synnott gave voluntary consent to search her vehicle, in which authorities allegedly found 250 bags of heroin, which were seized along with two syringes and four spoons.

The prosecutor's office said Synnott was charged with two counts of drug paraphernalia, a disorderly person offense, and motor vehicle complaints. Authorities say she was issued a summons for being a suspended driver and failure to keep right.

Castiglia was charged with possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, second degree, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, all disorderly person offenses, according to the prosecutor's office.

Synnott was released and Castiglia was lodged in the Somerset County Jail after cash bail of $75,000 was set by Superior Court Judge Paul W. Armstrong, authorities said on Thursday.


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