Crime

Month-long investigation leads to arrest, confiscation of 2.5 kilos of fentanyl in Fall River

State police said the 32-year-old Lawrence resident Jose Baez-Lara was booked on narcotics trafficking charges.

The narcotics and currency reportedly seized during Jose Baez-Lara's arrest. Massachusetts State Police

August 30, 2020

2 minutes to read

After a month-long investigation, state police seized about 2.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and arrested an alleged Lawrence-based supplier, according to a news release.The investigation, which included a series of controlled purchases of fentanyl from two suspects, made it possible for troopers to obtain search warrants for an apartment in Fall River and two vehicles, state police said. Shortly before 9 a.m on Thursday, troopers and Fall River Police Gang Unit officers set up surveillance on the Liberty Avenue apartment where state police said they observed two people leaving the building and driving away in a Chevrolet Malibu.Investigators followed and stopped the Malibu on Broadway in Fall River before returning to the apartment and executing a search warrant. State police said they seized a digital scale consistent with use for drug distribution, U.S. currency, and documents establishing residency of the apartment. Authorities also executed a search warrant on a Cadillac Escalade parked outside the apartment where troopers said they discovered narcotics — including eight bricks of suspected fentanyl wrapped in cellophane, which weighed around 814 grams, two plastic bags containing suspected fentanyl weighing about 97 grams and 44 grams, a revolver-style firearm and ammunition, a pill bottle containing numerous light blue pills stamped M30, and a purse holding plastic bags, a digital scale, and a knife.Another search warrant was then executed on the Malibu police had stopped earlier, which reportedly led authorities to recover a backpack containing about $11,600 in U.S. currency. During the execution of the search warrants, troopers said they developed information identifying the Lawrence-based supplier allegedly responsible for the narcotics they seized in Fall River.Investigators Thursday night then set up surveillance around an Applebee’s restaurant where they arranged for the supplier to deliver fentanyl, state police said. Around 9:15 p.m., surveillance teams reportedly saw an older model Honda CRV pull into the restaurant parking lot. Authorities approached the CRV and placed the lone occupant, 32-year-old Lawrence resident Jose Baez-Lara, into custody, state police said. Troopers and officers also noticed a gift bag on the front seat that contained a shoe box filled with 15 block-shaped packages of suspected fentanyl and weighed about 1,534 grams, according to state police. Troopers reportedly took Baez-Lara to the State Police Dartmouth Barracks where he was booked on narcotics trafficking charges. The two people officers pulled over will also face drug charges, according to state police, though their names have not been released.