© Palisades Interstate Parkway Police
In a statement, Lt. Michael Coppola said that Sgt. Kley Peralta and Officer Mark Torsiello were patrolling the northbound side of the parkway near Exit 4 in Alpine when they stopped a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer for having unclear license plates and an obstructed view.
As they approached the vehicle, they smelled burnt marijuana, and asked for consent to search the vehicle.
The driver, 32-year-old Rasoul Speight, of Port Jervis, N.Y., agreed, and the officers found nothing of value during the search, Coppola said.
However, outstanding traffic warrants were found for both Speight and his passenger, 26-year-old Gary Sylak of Shandaken, N.Y. Both were taken to police headquarters, where police conducted an additional search on them.
According to Coppola, Speight - who records indicated is a member of the Bloods street gang - had hidden 100 bags of heroin inside his anus, presumably to avoid them being found during the search of the car. The estimated street value of 100 bags of heroin is around $1,000 in New York City, and around twice that in upstate New York.
A syringe and spoon, both covered in heroin residue, were also found in the liner of Sylak's jacket, Coppola said.
Both men were charged with possession of heroin with intent to sell, possession of heroin and tampering with evidence. Sylak was also charged with possessing a syringe and drug paraphernalia.
They were taken to the Bergen County Jail, where both remained on Friday.
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