New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Yesterday morning, Massachusetts State Troopers, along with federal law enforcement agents and local police officers, raided a Springfield apartment suspected of housing a significant cocaine distribution operation. The raid resulted in the arrest of the target of the investigation, as well as two semi-automatic handguns, cocaine and pills, and more than $180,000 cash.
The raid team executed the search warrant at approximately 9:30 a.m. at the second floor apartment at 93 Acushnet Ave. The target of the investigation, MARIO MONGE, 41, the resident of the apartment, was detained outside the residence during the search warrant execution.
Massachusetts State Police photo.
As a result of the search, the team seized $183,928 in bulk US currency, 300 Oxycodone pills, 169 grams of suspected cocaine, a 9mm Taurus PT809 pistol, and a Walther P22 pistol.
MONGE was ultimately placed under arrest and booked at the State Police-Springfield Barracks on the following charges:
1. Unlawful possession of a firearm by a person with at least three prior convictions for violent crimes or drug crimes (two counts);
2. Possession of a large capacity feeding device;
3. Possession of a firearm in commission of a felony, subsequent offense (two counts);
4. Possession of ammunition without a Firearm Identification Card (two counts);
5. Improper storage of a firearm (two counts);
6. Trafficking cocaine;
7. Trafficking Oxycodone; and
8. Possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
The arrest and search was the result of an investigation by a State Police narcotics task force, the West Task Force of the Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction and Enforcement Team (CINRET). Other agencies and units assisting in the investigation and warrant service were the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, federal Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force and Springfield Police.
