Police

Men arrested in Mattituck drug bust remain behind bars

Police lead Colegedo Mokus and Nigel Ortiz into court Friday morning. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)
Police lead Colegedo Mokus (left) and Nigel Ortiz into court Friday morning. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

Two men facing felony drug charges following an East End Drug Task Force raid in Mattituck remain in custody after failing to post bail following their Friday morning arraignment. 

Southold Town Justice William Price set bail for Colegedo Mokus, 18, of Mattituck, at $1,000 cash and $2,500 cash for co-defendant Nigel Ortiz, 21, of Selden. Both men pleaded not guilty.

The duo were arrested at a Riley Avenue home after Southold Town police and the East End Drug Task Force executed a search warrant shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday, officials said.

The East End Drug Task Force — a multi-jurisdictional investigative unit that includes detectives from several departments and agencies on town, county and state levels — initiated a three month investigation after it received complaints from neighboring residents about drug deals taking place at the home, police said.

More than 8 ounces of marijuana, scales and money were recovered at the scene during the search, officials said.

The Suffolk County Police Emergency Services Unit and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit also assisted during the search, police said.

Both men are charged with third-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony, officials said.

Mr. Mokus, a graduate of Greenport High School, was arrested once before on drug possession charges after he was caught with marijuana and a scale during a traffic stop in Peconic last June. However, he was never convicted in that case, his lawyer told Justice Price during the arraignment.

Mr. Ortiz has no criminal record, his lawyer said.

The pair remain behind bars at Southold Town Police Headquarters and are due back in court May 14.

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