New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“At 10:01 a.m. on Thursday, October 27, Trooper Michael Barrera of the Troop C Community Action Team, was patrolling Route 84 eastbound in Sturbridge. While on traversing the “S” curve prior to exit 6A, Trooper Barrera saw a black Toyota Sienna minivan and determined it to be traveling almost 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.Trooper Barrera stopped the vehicle.
When Trooper Barrera approached the minivan, he identified the operator of the vehicle as LAM SAUKING, 55, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Through conversation, SAUKING’s said his destination JFK Airport in Queens. Despite traveling eastbound on Route 84 away from New York City, SAUKING maintained he was traveling to pick up passengers at JFK airport.
In an attempt to clear the confusion of SAUKING’s destination, SAUKING showed Trooper Barrera the active GPS on his phone which was navigating to an address in Arlington, Mass., which did not exist. When Trooper Barrera asked about the discrepancy, SAUKING assured he was traveling to Arlington rather than an airport but could not explain the new destination.
Massachusetts State Police photo.
Trooper Barrera went on to question SAUKING about his travel and the contents of the vehicle. SAUKING granted Trooper Barrera permission to search the minivan, and Trooper Barrera discovered seven large plastic zip bags containing powder, crystal, and rock-like white substances consistent with the narcotic ketamine, a Class A controlled substance.
Upon finding the bags of ketamine, Trooper Barrera immediately placed SAUKING in handcuffs, advised him of his Miranda rights and placed him under arrest. Trooper Barrera completed a thorough search of the minivan assisted by Trooper Michael Baroni of the Sturbridge Barracks, and MSP K9 handlers Lieutenant Erik Ramsland and Trooper Taylor Powers. In total the search yielded 6.5 kilograms, or 14.33 pounds, of the illicit narcotic with a street value estimated over $200,000.
SAUKING was transported to the Sturbridge Barracks to be booked, fingerprinted, and photographed. He was held until his arraignment at Dudley District Court on charges of trafficking in a Class A narcotic (Ketamine) and speeding.” -Massachusetts State Police.
