15 charged in bust of drug ring supplying South Jersey, Philly, cops say (PHOTOS)

The ring's alleged leader had homes in Salem County and Puerto Rico. Watch video

CAMDEN -- More than six kilograms of heroin and nine kilos of cocaine -- which had an estimated street value of $2 million -- are among the items seized in the takedown of a major area drug ring, New Jersey law enforcement authorities announced Thursday.

"Operation Inferno," a seven-month probe into New Jersey's "hottest" heroin target, ended with charges against 15 alleged ring members who allegedly dealt drugs in Camden and North Philadelphia.

"Long-term investigations of these types have real results," said state Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino. "With these arrests and charges, we have put out the fire."

Those "real results" announced Thursday during a joint press conference held at the Camden County Police Department's headquarters include the arrest of alleged ring leader Fernando Diaz-Rivera, 33, who has homes in Salem County and Puerto Rico.

"He's been on our radar, but he's been off the grid," Camden County police Chief Scott Thomson said of Diaz-Rivera, who has been charged with leading a narcotics trafficking network and could face life in prison.

According to the state Attorney General's Office, the drug ring -- which reportedly has ties to Mexican suppliers -- distributed 20 to 30 kilograms of heroin and cocaine per month.

In recent months, authorities allege Diaz-Rivera had been issuing orders from Puerto Rico to a 33-year-old Philadelphia man Luis Ortiz-Merced, who then directed lower-level ring members.

So-called "distributors" arrested: Francisco Vinico Savinon-Paulino, 38, of New York; Luis Medero, 34, of Camden; Helmer Garcia, 27, of Camden and Javier Rosa-Romero, 30, of Puerto Rico and Camden.

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Wholesale drug sellers arrested and charged: Angel Padilla, 43, of Camden; Alexis Burgos, 37, of Mount Holly; Juan Carlo Moreno Borrero Jr., 19, of Puetro Rico and Camden; Angel Rosa Ramos, 24, of Camden and Angel Martinez, 38, of Camden.

Other associates include Aleisha Marin-Vializ, 27, of Camden, who allegedly traveled to Chicago to pick up 10 kilograms of drugs; Jonathan Contreas, 28, of Camden, who allegedly arranged to receive drugs mailed from Puerto Rico, and Marcos Mendoza, 19, of Camden.

"These are the 15 we were able to charge," Porrino said when asked if additional suspects are still sought.

Ten of the ring members were arrested Wednesday and three were already in custody. Two members of the group, Angel Rosa Ramos and Karina Elice Olmeda-Burgos, are still at large.

Those arrested, besides Contreas and Mendoza, are charged with first-degree racketeering and being held on bail between $250,000 and $400,000.