Essex County police arrested two men who were allegedly dealing crack cocaine out of an abandoned house in the West Ward of Newark.

According to officials, the two suspects were busted dealing cocaine near the intersection of Brookdale Avenue and Abinger Place in Newark, NJ.

The Essex County Sheriff’s Office got multiple calls about individuals possibly selling drugs in Newark, NJ. Members of the Essex County Narcotics Bureau dispatched officers to the area.

When the officers arrived at the scene, they reportedly observed the two suspects lingering.

The officers reportedly saw a Mazda Millennium pull up. The suspects, a 37-year-old man and a 30-year-old man, then allegedly started to speak with the driver.

At some point, the suspects stepped away from the vehicle and walked toward a vacant home located at 88 Brookdale Avenue. According to law enforcement, the suspects retrieved cocaine out of a plastic bag and then exited the house.

The suspects approached the vehicle and allegedly gave the driver a small amount of cocaine in exchange for an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police followed the vehicle for a short distance after it drove away. Police stopped the Mazda and questioned the driver, who reportedly turned over a bag of crack cocaine.

Police returned to the abandoned home and placed the two suspects under arrest.

During a subsequent search of the vacant house, detectives allegedly found a plastic bag containing 34 vials of crack cocaine. Additionally, police allegedly found a loaded .40-caliber Taurus Millennium semi-automatic handgun.

The two suspects who are accused of dealing drugs were charged with distribution of cocaine and unlawful possession of a weapon.

If the suspects are convicted on the cocaine distribution charges, they face severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5, distribution of 5 ounces or more of cocaine is a first degree crime. A conviction for first degree cocaine distribution could result in a sentence of 10-20 years in NJ State Prison.

Both suspects were transported to the Essex County Jail in Newark NJ, where they were each held on separate $100,000 bail amounts.

Meanwhile, the man who allegedly bought the cocaine was issued a summons for cocaine possession. He was later released with a pending court date in Newark Municipal Court.

For more information about this case, see NJ.com article entitled “Newark Men Caught Dealing Crack Out of Abandoned City Home, Sheriff Says.”