FRANKLIN BOROUGH — Two men were arrested and charged with running a marijuana distribution operation out of a rented house in Franklin Borough, police said today.
Jeffrey Lato, 26, of Netcong and Thomas Suplicki, 23, who lived in the house on Rutherford Avenue, were both charged with possession and conspiracy to distribute five pounds of marijuana, police said.
They were arrested Saturday following a joint investigation by borough police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
In addition to the marijuana, approximately 50 pieces of drug paraphernalia, scales, plastic sealers and several bottles of butane that was used to process different forms of marijuana, such as hash oil, were also seized, police said.
"The residence ... was being used as a residence where large quantities of marijuana would be delivered then processed for retail distribution," police said in a news release.
Lato and Suplicki were being held in the Sussex County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail with no 10 percent option.
A third man, Levi Parkas, 22, who also lived in the house, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on his own recognizance pending an appearance in municipal court.
Franklin Detective Nevin Mattessich said the investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected.