36 Charged in Camden Heroin Ring

CAMDEN — New Jersey law enforcement officials have charged 36 people in what prosecutors say was a major heroin distribution ring in Camden.

Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa announced Friday that two top leaders, six upper-level managers, and 28 other associates, street-level managers and dealers have been charged with racketeering.

The network allegedly has ties to the Netas street gang.

Authorities say the group sold up to tens of thousands of dollars in heroin per week.

Chiesa says investigators broke up the ring by targeting an area of Camden they described as a 'hotbed of violence and daytime shootings.'

The investigation, called Operation Billboard, was lead by the Division of Criminal Justice with help from Camden law enforcement officials, the New Jersey State Police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.