100 OFFICERS ARREST 7 IN N.J. DRUG RAID

They Searched 7 Homes In Camden And Pennsauken.
Cocaine, Marijuana And Guns Were Confiscated.

By Angela Couloumbis, Inquirer Correspondent

CAMDEN In one of the city's largest drug raids, about 100 officers from
state, county and local police departments descended on six homes in Camden
City and one in Pennsauken yesterday, arresting seven people involved in an
alleged drug ring, and seizing cocaine, marijuana and guns.

According to Lt. Joseph Richardson, Camden police spokesman, the
earlymorning raid was the culmination of a threemonth investigation by
police in Camden and Pennsauken.

The officers, who coordinated a 6:15 a.m. entry into all seven homes,
retrieved a quarterpound of cocaine, an undetermined quantity of
marijuana, a .40caliber semiautomatic gun, a .32caliber revolver, and 2
twoway radios that police believe were used to operate the drug ring. "It
went as smooth as silk," Richardson said of the raid. "Nobody was hurt or
injured. When you're dealing with drugs, you're dealing with a heightened
possibility of danger."

Two of those arrested were male juveniles, Richardson said. Both are 16 and
live in Camden City. The other five arrested, also from Camden City, were
James Becker, 26; Michael Becker, 22; Marlon Stanard, 25; Larry Stanard,
46; and Paul McGuire, 51. All were arrested at their homes on drug and
weapons charges, and were being held at the Camden County Jail last night.

No one was arrested at the Pennsauken house.

The men accused of being the ringleaders of the operation, James Becker and
Marlon Stanard, face more serious charges, Richardson said.

Becker faces 15 counts of drug and weapons charges from conspiracy to
distribute cocaine to operating a manufacturing facility and employing
juveniles in the drug trade. Stanard faces three counts of narcotics
charges, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a
controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute.

Richardson said the investigation was continuing.

The raid, which was mostly carried out in the Cramer Hill neighborhood on
the east side of Camden, was held in conjunction with the New Jersey State
Police Teams Unit; the Cherry Hill and Gloucester Township Police
Departments; the Camden County Sheriff's Department SWAT officers and
canine unit; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Camden County
Prosecutor's Office; the New Jersey Air National Guard; and the University
of Medicine and Dentistry's special operations medic unit.