The investigation was conducted by the MetroWest Drug Task Force, which is comprised of detectives from Framingham, Natick and Marlborough, as well as the Fitchburg Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Rhode Island State Police and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Trafficking of fentanyl, a dangerous opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin, has surged in recent years. Drug bust yields 1,700 pounds of marijuana worth $15M Connecticut police arrested two men and seized an estimated $15 million in marijuana after discovering a storage facility was being used. "Unfortunately, shipping and logistics companies are from time to time affected by trafficking problems. There was a broken window where . The pills were valued at $267 million. The massive drug stash had a street value of $6 billion. While it might be against the law, we thought it was a pretty creative way to get cocaine across the border. All rights reserved (About Us). At least 12,500 pounds of fentanyl have already been seized in the first four months of fiscal year 2023, which began last October. This news came one day after the strike force located and arrested 11 in connection to a Brockton drug trafficking organization distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine throughout towns in Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol Counties. On September 28, 1989, law enforcement officials raided a 3,500-square-foot warehouse in Sylmar, California, that stored 21 tons of cocaine. The men have already been charged in other jurisdictions with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. A news release from the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office states that . Coconuts, crutches, car batteries, coffee cans and carrots all have one thing in common they've been packed with . All rights reserved. They also seized more than $10,000 in cash. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The two documented their months-long voyage on Instagram before they were arrested. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. or redistributed. Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York. There were seven separate vessels . OREM, Utah (ABC4) - A traffic stop has led to the arrest of a Springville woman who was found to be in possession of large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Authorities made a big drug bust after arresting a suspect who tried to flee from investigators, police said. Get your need-to-know Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. Authorities announced that a large-scale heroin seizure was made somewhere in Hampden County, and two people were arrested. About 24 pounds of fentanyl were seized during a bust near Nogales, Arizona. The roughly half-mile-long tunnel was discovered by Border Patrol agents, who seized about 11,000 pounds of cannabis and 2,242 pounds of cocaine from smugglers. Police arrested Reyes after a search warrant at his Rochester landscaping business recovered more than 18 grams of cocaine, a firearm and ammunition. Law enforcement officials arrested Springfield's Ernest Fickling and Cassandra Wilder after uncovering a stockpile of illicit drugs at an apartment building at 1482 State St. Handout/Guardia di Finanza. NBC2 crews were there when the LCSO narcotic and special operations units served one of two search warrants in North Fort Myers. DEA San Diego/Twitter. of marijuana, 124 grams of mushrooms, and several stolen guns in a March 30 drug bust. July 29, 2020 / 4:45 PM Dozens of them were taken . Shortly after, the deputy experienced more dizziness and had trouble breathing. There are few families in our state and across our country that havent been touched in some way by the scourge of the opioid epidemic and the fentanyl crisis, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said. Massachusetts State Police say they found 60 grams of fentanyl wrapped in a condom where the alleged drug deal took place. Police in Italy last year discovered cocaine stuffed inside individually hollowed-out coffee beans, after opening a parcel addressed to a fictional Mafia boss from a Hollywood movie, reports CNN. A dozen. Fifteen out of 26 people indicted in a massive 2021 drug bust are serving a collective 97 years in prison and facing a total of 55 years of supervised release, federal court records show.. Panepinto was arraigned on two separate cocaine trafficking charges and conspiracy. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime. The document says Durasevic and approximately four other individuals, some wearing ski masks, assisted in pushing the nets containing blue and black bags of cocaine into the hold and loaded them into containers. We will not stop.. The street value of all the seized cocaine could be as high as $1 billion, according to federal prosecutors in Philadelphia. My Office is committed to keeping our borders secure and streets safe from deadly narcotics.". July 26, 2016 / 7:32 PM / CBS NEWS. Police recovered $50,000 in cash . Thousands of pounds of drugs, including 4.5million fentanyl pills, were seized during a massive drug bust in Arizona that lead to the arrest of over 150 Sinaloa Cartel associates. On Tuesday, the Lee County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) announced operation 'curbside crackdown' lead to 50 arrests in a massive narcotics and gun bust at a North Fort Myers drug house. FENTANYL AND A STRONGER FORM OF METH NOW DRIVING AMERICAN HOMELESS CRISIS. She also did not have the names of the two people arrested and what agency arrested them. Copyright 2023 Waterman Broadcasting of Florida, LLC, Home News Crime Operation curbside crackdown leads to massive narcotics & gun bust at NFM drug house. The work of our New England Fentanyl Strike Force has been critical in dismantling major drug trafficking networks and keeping our communities safe, Healey said in a statement following those arrests. All rights reserved. Worcester DA to expand drug diversion program, help children with $1.6 million grant. He was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Jan. 6. When state police pulled over two suspects' car, they found a Christmas gift bag holding what they suspected was heroin or fentanyl. It turned out to be almost 20 kilograms of cocaine. Melonie Holt. The Sinaloa Cartel, which operates out of the Mexican city of Culiacan, was run by the brutal drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman until his arrest and conviction in the United States in 2019. The bust was the result of a three-year investigation into the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartels operations in Arizona. Two crew members have been arrested. Additionally, investigators found 66 kilograms of fentanyl powder and 4.5 counterfeit prescription drug pills laced with the deadly synthetic opioid. The troubling trend began around 2012, before cocaine-related deaths jumped 34 percent from 2016 to 2017, the CDC said. Many know about Pablo Escobar and his infamous drug trade in the 1970s and 80s. Updated: Nov. 21, 2019 at 5:55 PM PST. "MSC takes this matter very seriously and is grateful to the authorities for identifying any suspected abuse of its services," according to a company statement. Springfield Police Sgt. The investigation was . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. While an officer was talking to the driver, 40-year-old Tanya Tuttle Mize, he could see evidence of drug use through the passenger side of the car, a press release states. 0:59. About 24 pounds of fentanyl were seized during a bust near Nogales, Arizona. Deaths linked to cocaine abuse have been on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 21, 2023. It says that he got a call from the chief officer to go to the deck after the vessel left Peru, at which time he saw nets on the port side (left side facing the bow) by the ship's crane. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, No charges filed for officer-involved death in Provo, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? A search of his car recovered more than $4,000 and approximately 32 grams of fentanyl and cocaine. Read More. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. The trooper searched the rest of the car and discovered the 500 bags, as well as a plastic bag containing pills believed to be MDMA, or Molly, and cash. Authorities say the street value of the drugs was more than $350,000. LAWRENCE, MASS. 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On May 15, 2005, Colombian authorities seized $350 million worth of cocaine that was stashed on a jungle riverbank of the River Mira. / CBS NEWS. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. On May 23, 2009, U.S. military and Afghan troops seized 92 tons of opium poppy seeds from a Taliban stronghold. (U.S. Border Patrol). Operation curbside crackdown leads to massive narcotics & gun bust at NFM drug house, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' star dies at 61. He is due back in court on February 3 for a probable cause hearing. Spoonfeedz is all you need to get your daily dose of celebrity gossip, cute animals and our sexy videos may even get your heart racing. 500 Bags of Heroin Seized from Motor Vehicle Stop https://t.co/h47UlQIL37 via @MassStatePolice. The stop happened at about 7:25 p.m. at the intersection of High Street and Worcester Place. He was due to be arraigned in Holyoke District Court. The investigation also resulted in the arrest of a fourth individual unnamed by Healeys office. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). More: Police say man crashed his Mercedes in Natick, threw aside drugs as he ran away. A drug bust in Massachusetts this week didn't come up short, turning up roughly 300 grams of fentanyl, around a kilogram of cocaine and approximately $82,000 in cash, according to authorities. It's the third major fentanyl bust so far this month by Border Patrol between ports of entry, meaning that the drugs were successfully smuggled past CBP in a vehicle or were backpacked into the U.S. by mules. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The drug bust was the largest seizure in Colombia's history. This is lawful pressure and resistance that makes our crime rate go down and the quality of life go up, said Sheriff Marceno. 4,000 Bags of Suspected Heroin, Cocaine And Cash Found, Massachusetts Resident Charged With Drug Dealing. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check ournews page. Created in 2016, the New England Fentanyl Strike Force has seized over 439 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, tens of thousands of opioid pills, millions of cash dollars and arrested more than 580. Homeland Security Investigations has filed an arrest warrant affidavit which details how Ivan Durasevic and Fonofaavae Tiasaga allegedly coordinated the loading of cocaine onto the vessel. Deputies asked the Mize to get out of the car and they began to search the vehicle. He allegedly told the feds that Tiasaga was one of the crew members who helped him load the cocaine. Reyes bail was set at $200,000 and he is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on Feb. 3. On April 14, 2014, six people were arrested in Saudi Arabia for allegedly smuggling 22.6 million amphetamine pills hidden inside coils of barbed wire and rolls of plastic. Last week, police broke up an alleged cocaine trafficking syndicate that investigators believe distributed between 100 and 200 grams of cocaine a day through Northwestern Massachusetts. Jul 1, 2021 Updated Jul 2, 2021. Two Western Massachusetts residents are facing drug charges following the execution of a search warrant by the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force on Friday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A months-long joint investigation led by the New England Fentanyl Strike Force has resulted in the arrest of three individuals in connection to a drug trafficking organization, Attorney General Maura Healey announced Friday. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The bust also recovered 49 illegal guns and over $2million in cash. A clip from video posted online by Italy's Financial Guard military force shows an agent cutting into a paper drum as thousands of Captagon tablets pour out, following a massive amphetamine seizure at the port in Salerno, Italy. Spoonfeedz is the place to be for everything from sports fails to funny videos and captivating content. Tiasaga allegedly told agents that it was Durasevic who operated the crane that brought on the bales of the cocaine after the MSC Gayane was approached by six separate boats during the night while the ship was sailing between Panama and Coronel. Legal Statement. Pete Williams is an NBC News correspondent who covers the Justice Department and the Supreme Court, based in Washington. latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more, Harry and Meghan dont need Frogmore Cottage but it cant be given to Prince Andrew, Mans penis amputated by mistake after hes wrongly diagnosed with a tumour, Russian TV pundit stuns guests by admitting we could lose in Ukraine, Joe Biden had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest, Boris says he believed what we were doing was within rules amid new Partygate claims, Do not sell or share my personal information. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected]. . / CBS Boston, HOLYOKE (CBS) -- A traffic stop led to a drug bust in Holyoke Tuesday night, Massachusetts State Police say. Drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl, meanwhile, jumped about 22% in 2021 over 2020. While busts like this dont fully solve the problem that we face, getting as many of these drugs off the streets as possible will undoubtedly save lives, the attorney general said. Kent Langley said the search warrant was executed under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 2023 SpoonFeedz, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Mahana | New Zealand's Lost Hippy Community, Futuristic Short Film | Perfectly Natural, What Every James Bond Girl Looks Like Today, Dog Grooming Video You Never Knew You Needed, Healthy & Delicious Must-Have Breakfast Smoothie, Kim Kardashian Getting Ready For The Met Gala 2019, Turning 2 Hex Nuts into a 1Ct Diamond Ring, Keeping Up With The Kardashians Season 16 Teaser, Top 5 Foods To Help You Survive Cold And Flu Season, First Look at 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Film, How St Patricks Day Was Celebrated Around The World, Items People Have Snuck Past Airport Security With. A trooper found what's believed to be 500 bags of heroin after pulling over a car for "motor vehicle violations.". The suspects were from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. A seven-month-long investigation into a 100-to-200-gram daily cocaine distribution operation up and down the Pioneer Valley has culminated with the arrest of 12 people and the seizure of more than. Legal Statement. Santiago Soltren-Ramirez, a 31-year-old from Holyoke, was arrested on drug possession charges and a plate violation. Bill Melugin currently serves as a national correspondent for FOX News Channel based out of the Los Angeles bureau. The China white heroin recovered -- worth approximately $3 billion on the street -- was described, at the time, as the largest heroin bust in U.S. history, according to U.S. Customs. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Border Patrol agents seized about 93 pounds of fentanyl from a smuggler near Yuma, Arizona. HOLYOKE The body of Cory A. Taylor, the alleged marijuana trafficker who has been a fugitive since he disappeared in August after making bail at a local county jail, was discovered by police in a. The court documents say that Durasevic's arms and hands tested positive for the presence of cocaine. 0:00. (WHDH) - More than two dozen people were arrested Tuesday in a federal drug sweep, which authorities say was part of a yearlong investigation aimed at attacking the fentanyl and. The pills, with a street value of $1.5 billion, were concealed in furniture. MassLive covers statewide news, sports and entertainment and provides a place for people to connect and join the conversation. It is trickery, it is deception, it is death.. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Agents write that additional container seals were brought aboard to re-seal the containers loaded with cocaine. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. MetroWest Daily News. (U.S. Border Patrol). The Georgia Bureau of Investigation West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office along with the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force executed search and arrest warrants on five homes in Villa Rica,. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Investigators believe the ship was loaded with drugs after it left its last port of call in the Bahamas. Police say man crashed his Mercedes in Natick, threw aside drugs as he ran away, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Quantities of heroin and cocaine and frie arms were seized in the raids. Authorities also seized a loaded .22 caliber handgun, ammunition and roughly 13 pounds of marijuana, state police said. In total, the seized goods were valued at $13million. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Please enter valid email address to continue. The shipping company MSC thanked federal authorities for making the bust. There were 16.5 tons of the drug found in seven shipping containers late Monday night, officials said. SpoonFeedz Is a SSL encrypted site to protect On May 16, 2016, Colombian police seized 17,500 pounds of cocaine from the Clan Usuga gang. Michael Reyes of Rochester, Shawn Panepinto of Wareham and Jakeem Finley of Brockton were all arrested on Thursday, Healeys office said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. in Spanish. The massive drug bust took place during a traffic stop in San Clemente, a wealthy enclave about 75 miles inland from the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, multiple Border Patrol sources told Fox News. Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or [email protected]. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Operation curbside crackdown resulted in a total of 50 arrests, with more pending, said Sheriff Carmine Marceno. There were 16.5 tons of the drug found in seven shipping containers late Monday night, officials said. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. More wax paper bags fell from the driver's lap as the trooper removed him from the car, according to police. Our total of over 1,000 grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine seizedmeans over 2200 doses that were stopped from ruining lives and families, said Sheriff Marceno. While it might be against the law, we thought it was a pretty creative way to get cocaine across the border. Authorities busted the smugglers in the process of transporting 10 tons of weed under the border through a 600-yard tunnel. First published on July 29, 2020 / 4:45 PM. NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. On Tuesday, the Lee County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) announced operation curbside crackdown lead to 50 arrests in a massive narcotics and gun bust at a North Fort Myers drug house.