SUFFERN, NY – Suffern Police Chief Clarke Osborn announced the arrest of Mohamed R. Mohamed, 47, of 2 W. Maple Ave in Suffern.

On Monday, after an extensive investigation with the assistance of the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Rockland INTEL Unit, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, the Suffern PD executed a narcotics search warrant.

During the raid Officers located close to 2,000 pills of the opioid based controlled substance ‘Tramadol’ which were illegally possessed. Mohamed, was placed under arrest and transported to Suffern PD for processing.

Mohamed R. Mohamed was charged with the following:

– Felony of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell
– Criminal Possession of A Controlled Substance – 7th Degree.
– Charged with three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. (*during the time of the arrest three young children were in an open area where the controlled substances were located)

Mohamed was arraigned and bail was set $10,000.

The investigation was headed by Suffern Police Det. Sgt. Rick Marsh & PO Andrew Yorke. Yorke is also assigned part time to the Rockland County INTEL Unit.

What is It is a is a centrally-acting, oral analgesic (pain drug) that contains an opioid (narcotic). Often prescribed for those in moderate to severe pain. In 1995, tramadol was originally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a non-controlled analgesic. However, since 1995, changes to the controlled substance status of tramadol have been made due to reports of drug abuse, misuse and criminal diversion. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that tramadol was placed into schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) effective August 18, 2014.

– The new scheduling applies to all forms of tramadol.
– The rescheduling of tramadol came at a time of growing concern related to abuse, misuse, addiction and overdose of opioid analgesics.
– Previously tramadol was a controlled substance in only a few states.

Tramadol prescriptions in the U.S. may now only be refilled up to five times within a six month period after the date on which the prescription was written. After five refills or after six months, whichever occurs first, a new prescription is required. This rule applies to all controlled substances in schedule III and IV.