Crime

Police: Two-state investigation leads to gun, drug seizure

Three Springfield men were arrested.

Massachusetts State Police say they recently seized 16 firearms, 15,000 packets of heroin and almost a kilogram of fentanyl.

By Boston.com Staff

2 minutes to read

SPRINGFIELD — A lengthy, two-state investigation concluded last week with the arrest of three Springfield men, as well as the seizure of 16 firearms, 15,000 packets of heroin, and almost a kilogram of fentanyl, according to a statement from Massachusetts State Police.

Authorities say the investigation focused on Geovanni Saldana, 28, of Springfield, as he traveled to Hartford, Connecticut.

Detectives learned he would be traveling back to Springfield last week with a significant amount of narcotics, according to the statement.

Police arrested Saldana on Interstate-91 in Longmeadow on his return trip. According to the statement, he was traveling with approximately 95 grams of fentanyl and heroin.

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While investigators from Massachusetts focused on Saldana, Connecticut State Police Narcotics officers observed another individual attempting to leave the location in Hartford. They seized 15,000 bags of heroin, 800 grams of fentanyl, and a 9mm handgun, according to the statement.

Police say they executed multiple search warrants the following day in Springfield and West Springfield. Authorities seized 14 firearms, various amounts of narcotics, and approximately $10,000, according to the statement.

Saldana was charged with trafficking heroin/fentanyl. He was held on $250,000 cash bail, according to the statement.

Jose Rios, 34, of Springfield was charged with possession of a sawed-off shotgun, seven counts of possession of a firearm without an FID card, three counts of possession of a large-capacity firearm, four counts of improper storage of a large-capacity firearm, and improper storage of a firearm. He was held without bail, according to the statement.

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Alexander Rivera, 31, of Springfield, was charged with trafficking cocaine 18 grams or more, possession to distribute a class A drug, possession of a firearm without an FID card, and improper storage of a firearm. He was released on $50,000 cash bail, according to the statement.

Further charges may be filed, according to the statement.

“This interagency, multi-state effort has a significant regional impact on public safety across two states,” said Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. “Law enforcement worked together across agency and state lines to interrupt a significant network of drug and gun distribution. I thank the investigators and agencies involved in this complicated investigation who worked collaboratively with each other to do their jobs and make their communities safer.”

Leading this investigation was the Massachusetts State Police’s Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team (C.I.N.R.E.T). It was assisted by Homeland Security Investigations/Springfield, State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations Team, Hampden District Attorney’s State Police Detective Unit, the Hampden County Narcotic Task Force, the Strategic Action and Focused Enforcement unit, Springfield Police Department, Easthampton Police Department, Westfield Police Department, Holyoke Police Department, Pittsfield Police Department, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, DEA Springfield, ATF Springfield, FBI Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, and Connecticut State Police Narcotics.

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