Smile, You're On Camera, Police Warn Illegal Drug Buyers In Camden, NJ
By David Madden
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- Camden police are teaming up with county prosecutors on a new approach to dealing with the city's notorious drug trade.
More than 800 open-air drug deals went down at 6th and York in North Camden since the first of the year. How do authorities know that? They watched them go down on camera, and took down the license plates of the vehicles involved.
As a result, more than 600 warning letters are going out as part of "Operation Drug Net," according to Camden County prosecutor Warren Faulk (at lectern in photo).
"This is simply notice going to a registered owner so that that owner knows that his or her vehicle was in this location," Faulk says. "It also warns the owner that if the vehicle is in this location or another drug location at some future time, criminal liability may result."
Faulk adds that nine out of ten cars caught on camera were registered in Camden's suburbs, including Burlington, Gloucester, and Camden counties.
Police concede there aren't enough cops to track down every drug deal in Camden, but efforts like this might alert a family member or employer that someone has a drug problem.
