TOMS RIVER – A two-month, multi-agency investigation into narcotics trafficking in Ocean County led to the arrest of two people and the seizure of about 360 grams of cocaine and roughly $150,000 in suspected criminal proceeds, authorities said.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force worked with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, Brick Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Gloucester Township Police Department Special Response Team and Robbinsville Township Police Department during the investigation.
Authorities said the investigation identified residences in Trenton and Clementon that were allegedly being used by Joshua Hunter, 53, of South Toms River, and Mary Copestick, 41, of Clementon, to store and distribute cocaine.
On Feb. 26, 2026, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and the Brick Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit stopped a vehicle driven by Copestick, with Hunter riding as a passenger, prosecutors said. Both were taken into custody without incident.
Investigators said they saw about 360 grams of cocaine in plain view as the two were removed from the vehicle. Detectives later executed court-authorized search warrants at the Trenton and Clementon properties, where they seized about $150,000 in assets believed to be tied to criminal activity.
Copestick and Hunter were each charged with possession of five ounces or more of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess five ounces or more of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Both were taken to the Ocean County Jail and later released under New Jersey’s bail reform law, authorities said.
Billhimer praised the participating agencies for their assistance in the investigation.
