9 charged in Atlantic County heroin ring

Nine people were arrested when a heroin-trafficking ring in Atlantic County was broken this week as part of a seven-month investigation, authorities said Thursday.

Law enforcement officers executed search warrants Wednesday at the Philadelphia Village Housing Complex in Egg Harbor City, authorities said. Heroin worth more than $10,000 was seized, as were $4,500 in cash, two guns, and a two-way radio system.

The people arrested were Ernest Collier, 18; Chaise Hill, 35; Steven Martinez, 19; Tyshon Nieves, 22; Jamil Highsmith, 45; Keleen Simpson, 32; Mike Jeril, 32; April Hill, 45; and Donald Dillard, 56. - Robert Moran