2016 News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2016

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Public Affairs (609) 882-2000
Lt. Brian Polite - ext. 6514
SFC Greg Williams - ext. 6515
Sgt. Jeff Flynn - ext. 6516
Tpr. I Lawrence Peele - ext. 6531
Tpr. Alejandro Goez - ext. 6527


New Jersey State Police Arrest Two Men in Connection to Plastic Theft Ring

Bayonne, N.J. - Detectives from the New Jersey State Police Interstate Theft North Unit arrested Yih Tan, 38, of Staten Island, New York and Rong Wu, 41, of Brooklyn, New York for allegedly operating a theft ring that sold stolen plastics overseas.

A four-month long investigation revealed that various individuals and groups would steal plastic storage and transportation containers, commonly used by pharmaceutical retailers, bakeries, and food distributors. They would then take the stolen plastics to the recycling facility where Tan and Wu would purchase them. It is believed that some of these individuals would then use the profits from the transactions to purchase drugs for personal use. At the facility, Tan and Wu would shred the plastics into small pieces called grinds. The grinds were then sold and shipped to businesses in China that would use the material for other products. During an undercover operation, detectives were able to sell plastic products to the facility with no questions asked.

On November 2, detectives searched the Bayonne facility and seized more than 45,000 pounds of plastic grinds valued at approximately $67,000. Investigators also seized more than $20,000 in currency and other items associated with the investigation. It took detectives several days working around the clock to sort through the evidence, which was enough to fill two tractor trailer box containers.

Yih Tan and Rong Wu were charged with receiving stolen property and fencing. They were released pending a court appearance.

The case was investigated by detectives from the New Jersey State Police Interstate Theft North Unit, Trafficking North Unit, Gangs and Organized Crime North Unit, Official Corruption North Unit, Cyber Crimes Unit, and The Waterfront Commission of N.Y. / N.J. The case will be prosecuted by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Charges are mere accusations, and the suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty

Photo of Yih Tan

Yih Tan

Photo of Rong Wu

Rong Wu

# # #

Follow the New Jersey State Police online at Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The social media links provided are for reference only. The New Jersey State Police do not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.


Open Public Records Act
 
Divisional: NJSP Home | About Us | Recruiting | Division | Public Information | Services | News | FAQs | Contact Us
Departmental: OAG Home | Contact OAG | About OAG | OAG News | OAG FAQs
Statewide: NJ Home | Services A to Z | Departments/Agencies | FAQs

Copyright © State of New Jersey,
New Jersey State Police