PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A combined task force says it took down a major drug pipeline on Friday that extended out to Lowell. 

 

The raids carried out that day seized more than $200,000 worth of drugs and numerous weapons, and resulted in the arrests of nine people so far. 

 

District Attorney Timothy Shugrue, surrounded by local and state law enforcement officers, said it was a warning to drug dealers looking to set up in the Berkshires. 

 

"We will find you, we locate you and we will arrest  you," he said at a press conference Monday at the Berkshire Innovation Center. 

 

Elements of the raids were posted on Facebook by passersby on Friday, including the fleet of unmarked cars and State Police vehicles staged in Cheshire and the battering down of a door at a Howland Avenue, Adams, house and arrests of the occupants. 

"Luckily, we live in a community where people do give us information and cooperate with us, and we were able to build that because of the help from the public as well," Shugrue commented.

He reported it was a "very complicated" investigation and operation that recovered more than $60,000 in cash, 320 grams of heroin, 700 grams of cocaine, 300 grams of fentanyl pills, and 20 firearms including large-capacity weapons. The office had been working on it for months.

The suspects were reportedly "pretty coy and pretty smart" about what they were doing, with cameras inside and outside of the facilities and tactics such as changing phones often. It was a fluid situation, Shugrue said, so the teams had to build up more and more information as they went along.

"In the Berkshires, we work as a team and Friday's operation shows exactly what that means," he said. "I am incredibly proud of their dedication that made this operation a success."
 
Twenty-three search warrants on 14 different properties were executed simultaneously or in close proximity beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday in Adams, North Adams, Pittsfield, and Lowell, including vehicles, a long-term storage facility on West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield, and six defendants.

"This operation shows the Massachusetts State Police will relentlessly pursue anyone who distributes opioids and possesses illegal guns in the Commonwealth," said State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble in a statement. "Every member of our ranks is committed to making our communities safer by getting illicit drugs and guns off of our streets."

All of those arrested Friday were from the Berkshires; Shugrue said a warrant has been issued for someone with Lowell connections. One person had already been arraigned at the time of the press conference and was being held on $200,000 bail and eight others are being arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court.

The following individuals received varied drug and firearm charges:

• Richard Colon, 44, Quaker St., Pittsfield; drug trafficking and conspiracy to violate drug laws. 
• Jose Carrasquillo, 50, of Lowell; drug trafficking, possession of a firearm without an FID, conspiracy to violate drug laws.
• Henry Vidal, 42, Orchard Street, Pittsfield; drug trafficking, conspiracy to violate drug laws.
• Victor Colon, 45, Beaver Street, North Adams; drug trafficking, intent to distribute, possession, possession of firearms and ammunition without an FID and in commission of a felony, possession of a large capacity feeding device, conspiracy to violate drug laws.
• Julio Colon-Valentin, 26, Beaver Street, North Adams; drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug law.
• Andy Rivera-Medina, 44, Howland Avenue, Adams; conspiracy to violate drug laws.
• Kahil Lanphear-Dyer, 26, Quaker Street, Adams; drug trafficking, possession of a fire arm in commission of a felony and of a large capacity feeding device, improper storage of a firearm, conspiracy to violate drug law.
• Ismael Beltre-Beltre, 39, Howland Avenue, Adams; drug trafficking.
• Gerard Mendez-Navarro, 19, Howland Avenue, Adams; drug trafficking.
• Meagan Oakley, 32, Howland Avenue, Adams; drug trafficking.

Victor Colon, 46, had eight different charges, including three counts for possession of a large-capacity feeding device. The DA's office said it had no information that related this case to that of Pittsfield High School Dean Lavante Wiggins, who was arrested and charged in December for allegedly trafficking large quantities of cocaine.

Shurgrue said it was "critical" to act swiftly and effectively to apprehend the suspects and not tip anyone off.

"Law enforcement did exactly that with precision and coordination and professionalism," he explained. "No one was hurt, everybody was placed under arrest peacefully."

Sheriff Thomas Bowler said public officials' goal is to create a stronger, healthier, and safer community, "and that's just what we've accomplished over the past several months with this operation."

"This was a very complicated case. It took us across different parts of the state and I'm very, very proud of the men and women who have been involved in this investigation," he added.

"Furthermore, one thing that goes a little unnoticed is a lot of these individuals over the last several months have worked tirelessly day in and day out, some 12 hours, six, seven-day shifts, and that takes a toll on their families. I just want to say thank you to the families for your support in allowing these individuals to create a stronger, healthier, and safer community."
 
Attending Monday's press conference or involved in the operation were Berkshire County Sheriff Thomas Bowler; State Police Maj. Jeffrey Boutwell, Detective Capt. Jay Farley and Lt. Col. Daniel Tucker, division commander of the Division of Investigative Services; Pittsfield Police Chief Thomas Dawley; Great Barrington Police Chief Paul Storti; Adams Police Chief K. Scott Kelly and North Adams interim Police Chief Mark Bailey.

Also assisting were the Lowell Police Department, Franklin/Hampshire County Law Enforcement Task Force, Middlesex State Police Detective Unit and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms which provided equipment for the operation.