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Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni announced today the arrest of four individuals suspected of heroin trafficking in Hampden County, as well as, the seizure of a significant amount of heroin, totaling over 1.25 kilos.
Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “I would like to thank all of the dedicated members of law enforcement who conducted and executed this high-level investigation into a significant drug trafficking operation here in Hampden County.” District Attorney Gulluni went on to say, “Aggressively fighting the opioid epidemic by disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations here in Hampden County continues to be at the center of our two-pronged attack on the opioid epidemic. My office will continue to prosecute drug traffickers to the fullest extent of the law while assisting those afflicted with addiction in finding the help and treatment they need.”
After an investigation into the trafficking and sale of heroin in Hampden County, the Massachusetts State Police assigned to Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni’s Office, developed intelligence indicating a large shipment of heroin would be coming into the area.
As a result, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office stopped the suspect’s vehicle on I-391 in the early morning hours of May 22, 2018. Detectives initiated the stop after witnessing a narcotics transaction at a self-storage facility in Chicopee a short time earlier.
Detectives requested a narcotics certified K9 unit to the scene and upon arrival, the K-9 alerted detectives to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Upon inspection, detectives discovered 400 grams of raw un-cut heroin (approximately 20,000 bags) with an estimated street value of over $100,000. Also seized were approximately 600 ready for sale bags of heroin, approximately $12,174 in U.S. Currency, and numerous items consistent with the processing and packaging of heroin.
Arrested at the scene were:
Fidel Gil, 41, of Hartford, Conn for the following charges:
Trafficking in Heroin Over 200 Grams
Conspiracy to Violate Narcotic Laws.
Paola Mercedes Reyes-Desantos, 23, address currently unavailable, for the following charges:
Trafficking in Heroin Over 200 Grams
Conspiracy to Violate Narcotic Laws.
As a result of the arrests and seizure, a total of six search warrants were applied for and granted. The search warrants included two residential locations in Springfield, two vehicles, a motel room in West Springfield, and a self-storage unit in Chicopee.
In the early morning hours of May 22, 2018, the following agencies executed the search warrants: the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force, the Springfield Police Department’s Strategic Impact Unit and Warrant Squad, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security and the Massachusetts State Police.
Of the six search warrants executed two locations had significant seizures.
In West Springfield at the EconoLodge Inn and a vehicle, approximately 1,900 bags of heroin and $1200 dollars were seized.
In Chicopee at Chicopee Self-Storage approximately 30,000 bags, (approximate weight of 750 grams), with an estimated street value of $150,000, were seized.
Arrested in connection with these seizures were:
Christian Rivera, 22, of Springfield, for the following charges:
Trafficking Heroin Over 200 Grams
Possession of Ammunition Without an FID
Possession of Class D, Marijuana: With Intent to Distribute
Cassandra Cardona, 21, of Springfield, for the following charge:
Possession of Class D, Marijuana: With Intent to Distribute
Anthony Guadalupe, 22, address unavailable, for the following charges:
Trafficking 18-36 Grams of Heroin
Trafficking Over 200 Grams of Heroin
Suspects are expected to be arraigned today in Springfield District Court
