New Jersey police arrest two in plastic scrap theft ring

Detectives from the New Jersey State Police Interstate Theft North Unit have arrested two men for allegedly operating a theft ring that sold stolen plastic overseas, primarily to China.

The arrest follows a four-month investigation conducted by the state police, which revealed that various individuals and groups would steel plastic storage and transportation containers. They would take the stolen plastics to Apex Recycling, a recycling facility in Bayonne, New Jersey, where the two men – Yih Tan and Rong Wu – would purchase the material. According to police the two men are the owners of Apex.

At the facility, Tan and Wu would shred the plastics and ship the material to businesses in China.

During an undercover operation, detectives with the New Jersey police unit sold plastic products to the facility with no questions asked.

Nov. 2, 2016, detectives searched the Bayonne facility and seized more than 45,000 pounds of plastic regrind valued at about $67,000. Investigators also seized more than $20,000 in currency and other items associated with the investigation.

Both men were charged with receiving stolen property and with fencing.