Wayne Man Caught Buying 20 Packets of Heroin, Police Say

A Wayne man was charged with possession of heroin after he was observed buying the drug in Paterson Monday afternoon, authorities said.

Narcotics detectives from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office saw John Rensing, 22, buy 20 packets of heroin from Denziel Smith, 22, in Paterson Monday at 3:30 p.m., Sheriff Richard Berdnick said.

Smith, a Paterson resident, had 150 packets in his possession and nearly $1,200, according to Berdnik.

The detectives were conducting work for the sheriff’s street enforcement operation “taking the streets back one dealer at a time.”

Smith was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, Berdnik said. He was taken to Paterson municipal jail pending bail arraignments.

Rensing was released on his own recognizance pending an appearance in Paterson Municipal Court.

Wayne police have focused on keeping illegal drugs, especially heroin, out of the township. Heroin and prescription drug use among teenagers and young adults has increased in Wayne.

At a community forum in October, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes said Wayne ranked second behind Paterson in the number of overdose deaths in Passaic County from September 2012 to May 2013. Of the 44 deaths, seven occurred in Wayne, six more than from September 2011 to September 2012.