IT’S A grey and misty morning in New Jersey.

OFFICIALS are decrying political corruption in New Jersey after more than 40 people, among them rabbis and elected officials, were arrested in an investigation in which some were accused of laundering tens of millions of dollars and of black- market trafficking of kidneys and fake Gucci handbags.

Several rabbis, three mayors and two state politicians were among more than 40 people arrested when an investigation into the sale of black-market kidneys and fake Gucci handbags evolved into a sweeping probe of political corruption in New Jersey.

A mysterious gas-like odour that covered much of Manhattan, had residents flooding emergency phone lines with worried queries and caused rail disruptions yesterday most likely emanated from New Jersey, a city environmental official said today.