SOUTH HACKENSACK — Township police arrested 14 people this week in an undercover operation targeting prostitution and drug dealing in a motel on Route 46 westbound, authorities said.

The operation began around 5 p.m. Tuesday and ended about 2 a.m. Wednesday, South Hackensack police Capt. Robert Kaiser said.

“The prostitution rolled into the narcotics,” Kaiser said.

Police have seen an influx of prostitution in Route 46 motels in the last six months, Kaiser said, but they don’t know why.

Seven township police officers were involved in the operation, Kaiser said, after hearing about prostitution and drug dealing in the motel. He declined to identify the motel.

Kaiser said the officers posed as clients and scheduled appointments with the prostitutes in the motel. The prostitutes’ rates ranged from $70 for a half-hour to $300 for an hour.

The officers asked the prostitutes about buying drugs, and the dealers came to the motel rooms to sell crack cocaine, he said.

Police seized about $2,500 and some drugs during the bust, he said.

Kaiser said police don’t know if the prostitutes are affiliated, and he declined to say what is next in the investigation.

Eric Gonzalez, 26, of Jersey City, was charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances, possession of cocaine and possession of Xanax.

Timmy Rivera, 30, of Bayonne, was charged with promoting prostitution, possession of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Jessica M. Paget, 24, of Jersey City, was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana and prostitution.

Heather Homan, 37, of Jamesburg, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of needles and prostitution.

Joshua Dixon, 22, of Paterson, was charged with prostitution and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joji Sai, 31, of Leonia, and Liang Zhang, 31, of Elmhurst, N.Y., were charged with promoting prostitution.

Jin L Chen, 43, of Flushing, N.Y.; Yuping Sheng, 45, of Flushing, N.Y.; Brielle Inestroza, 22, of Newark; Ivette Amarante-Camacho, 24, of Bayside, N.Y.; and Fatima Ventura, 36, of College Point, N.Y., were charged with prostitution.

Peggy Jorgensen, 34, of Elizabeth, was charged with loitering with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances, although the police said she did not actually possess a controlled dangerous substance.

Maria Jorge-Lopez, 32, of Lodi, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

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