Watchung Man Found With 1K Heroin Bricks, $400K In Cash: Police

WATCHUNG, NJ — A Watchung man was indicted on Wednesday for heroin trafficking and money laundering after officers found 1,000 bricks of heroin and around $400,000 cash, according to New Jersey Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig.

The man, William Bouza, 46, has been under investigation by law enforcement for over two years, authorities said.

Back in February 2019, Bouza was set to pick up a shipment of 15 kilograms (around 33.1 pounds) of heroin from a car driven from California to a location in Union County, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

He was seen going into the area, but never took over the car, and the drugs hidden inside it were seized by police, officials said.

Later in October, Bouza was approached by officers, who suspected him of storing and selling drugs. He fled driving but was arrested about a week later.

Officers found around 1,000 bricks of heroin, each containing about 50 individual doses, in one of Bouza's stash houses. They also found he had around $400,000 in cash and had laundered more than $800,000 from selling drugs, according to authorities.

Bouza was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl, two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

He could face up to a life sentence, with a minimum of ten years, for the controlled substances charges, and 20 years for the money laundering, officials said.