Hudson County Residents Arrested in Cocaine Distribution Case

A Secaucus man and a North Bergen woman were arrested and charged after a seven-month investigation into alleged cocaine distribution, according to the Secaucus Police Department.

In June 2025, detectives received information that Mohamed Laib was “distributing cocaine from his Paulanne Terrace residence.” Police said he used the location “to store cash proceeds derived from his illicit drug distribution scheme” and stored cocaine at his girlfriend’s residence “located on the 1400 block of Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen.”

On January 23, 2026, shortly after 7:00 p.m., detectives “observed Mohamed Laib engage in a drug transaction on Fairview Avenue in Secaucus with Steven Liptai.” Both men “were found in possession of cocaine at the time they were stopped and both were subsequently placed under arrest.”

Police then executed “simultaneous Court authorized searches” at both residences. Approximately $10,000 was seized from the Secaucus address. At the North Bergen location, police recovered “a large quantity of suspected cocaine and paraphernalia indicative of an illicit drug distribution,” along with additional cash. In total, “an aggregate quantity of approximately 100 grams of suspected cocaine was seized along with a total of $11,307.00 in cash.”

Chelsey Albuja, 25, was arrested following the search of the North Bergen residence.

Laib, 34, was charged with multiple offenses, including “Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine,” “Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine within 1,000 feet of a School,” and “Money Laundering.” Albuja was charged with similar offenses. Both were lodged in the Hudson County Jail. Liptai, 51, was charged with “Possession of CDS” and released on a summons.

“The Anti-Crime Unit is committed to investigating nefarious activity that affects the quality of life of the residents Secaucus,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “The dedication to this endeavor by the members of the Anti-Crime Unit is evident and I am proud of their investigative work.”