Cherry Hill man held; 187 pounds of pot seized

Police have arrested a Cherry Hill man who was allegedly having hundreds of pounds of marijuana shipped to his apartment each month, then selling the drugs to dealers in Philadelphia.

Authorities believe Stewart Hill, 30, was running a lucrative marijuana business out of his apartment on Route 38 for some time. An estimated $500,000 worth of marijuana - about 187 pounds - was seized from Hill's apartment and from three locations in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Police also found $44,000 in cash in Hill's apartment, as well as a loaded assault weapon and two handguns. The apartment was filled with expensive clothes, jewelry and electronics, said Jason Laughlin, a spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

Hill was charged Wednesday with possession with intent to distribute more than 25 pounds of marijuana, and three counts of weapons possession.

At least two of the guns were illegally owned, and additional weapons charges are expected to be filed, Laughlin said.

Hill is a felon, according to Laughlin, but Laughlin would not comment further on the nature of Hill's criminal record. He is being held on $250,000 bail in the Camden County Jail.

Hill's arrest came after a monthlong investigation into a multistate drug ring, Laughlin said.

Authorities believe Hill was having someone regularly ship multiple boxes, each containing 25 to 30 pounds of marijuana, from Arizona to his apartment. Hill also had boxes shipped to Philadelphia addresses that were usually abandoned houses, Laughlin said.

Hill used commercial shipping services and set up the delivery times so he could personally pick up those shipments, and he regularly changed the locations he used.

The boxes were shrink-wrapped, authorities said, and included items designed to mask the scent of the drugs, such as dryer sheets and automobile fluids like oil.

Authorities believe Hill sold the marijuana in multi-pound quantities to dealers in Philadelphia, who would sell the drugs to users.

Investigators have not yet determined how long Hill was importing drugs into New Jersey, Laughlin said.

A search of Hill's apartment indicated he had been living a lavish lifestyle.

In addition to the cash, drugs and weapons, investigators seized a 2008 Cadillac Escalade, a 2006 Buick Lucerne, three plasma televisions, two high-definition DVD recorders, a computer system, and $75,000 in jewelry. The apartment was also filled with hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of clothing and shoes.

Laughlin would not comment on how investigators traced the drugs to Hill, but he said the initial tip came from Arizona.

Hill was arrested at his apartment by members of the Cherry Hill Police Department, as well as representatives from the prosecutor's office and the Camden office of the Drug Enforcement Agency.