Crime & Safety

Female Fugitive Accused in Prescription Drug Ring Captured

Glen Rock police say Sazana Sadiku, 24, was a major player in a ring that defrauded at least 40 pharmacies out of 5,000 Oxycodone pills, with a street value of $100,000.

The along with two other men from dozens of pharmacies throughout New York and New Jersey was picked up by NYPD and extradicted to Bergen County, Glen Rock police said Wednesday.

According to Det. James Calaski, Sazana Sadiku (who goes by her maiden name Sazana Djonbalaj), 24, was picked up on warrant charges in Staten Island by the NYPD Warrant Squad, waived extradiction and is in county jail in lieu of a $125,000 bond.

Sadiku and at least two other males are accused of hopping from pharmacy to pharmacy where they'd pass stolen and forged prescriptions from New York City pharmacies. Their run, according to authorities, stretched from Wurtsboro in upstate New York down to Toms River at the Jersey Shore.

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The alleged scheme netted the group 5,000 Oxycodone pills from at least 40 pharmacies, with a street value of $100,000, Calaski said.

Things appeared to be going well for the gang until May 15, when detectives say went to to pass a scrip. The pharmacist noticed a man resembling Salijaj had been in Glen Rock weeks prior, again looking for a pill fill. Police were dispatched and after a brief footrace in the downtown, Salijaj was nabbed.

Police claim the Salijaj, of Washington Heights in Manhattan, admitted guilt but refused to identify his alleged accomplices.

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Sadiku was charged with attempt to obtain CDS by fraud, obtaining CDS by fraud, two counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of forgery by uttering, and two counts of wrongful impersonation.

While Sadiku is already behind bars, Calaski said a second male suspect has been identified, though not located.


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