NORTHAMPTON — A New Jersey man accused of attempting to traffic hundreds of bags of heroin across state lines remains jailed following his arraignment Friday.

Dion M. Johnson, 34, of Linden, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty in Hampshire Superior Court to two counts of possession with intent to distribute, one each for heroin and cocaine, according to a police report. 

The case was moved from district to superior court after a grand jury indicted Johnson.

He was also initially charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and neglecting care of motor vehicle equipment, according to the report.

Judge Daniel Ford set bail at $10,000 cash or $100,000 surety. Hampshire County Jail staff said Johnson remained in custody as of Friday evening. he has been in the jail since his arrest Jan. 4.

Johnson was stopped that evening on Interstate 91 in Hatfield when a Massachusetts State Police trooper noticed the muffler on Johnson’s vehicle was unusually loud, according to the police report. When Trooper Robert Wyckoff made the traffic stop, Johnson told him he might have some traffic tickets out of New Jersey. Wyckoff also noted in his report that the muffler was in disrepair.

Police determined that his license was suspended and he was wanted on an arrest warrant issued in New Jersey. Authorities cautioned that he could be armed and had assaultive tendencies.

Johnson was asked to step out of his vehicle and was handcuffed, according to the police report. Wyckoff found a small electronic scale with cocaine residue, and police said they confiscated about 10 grams of cocaine.

When backup arrived with a K9 unit, troopers discovered a cardboard box containing hundreds of unused wax stamp bags, typically used to package heroin, as well as a large already-packaged block of heroin, according to the report. 

The block, which was tucked beneath the driver’s side dashboard, contained five bundles of heroin, police said. That equates to about 250 bags of heroin.

Johnson is due back in court Wednesday.

Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.