Covert operation targets Brockton 'open-air' drug dealers — 16 arrests in one morning
BROCKTON — A joint covert operation led by state and Brockton police into the city's street-level distribution of narcotics and opiates, including fentanyl, resulted in an "arrest warrant sweep of 40 targets, 16 of whom are in custody as of Tuesday afternoon," state police reported in a written statement.
The investigation went on for two months, during which roughly 100 state and local police officers participated in "undercover drug buys from the subjects of the arrests," state police said.
"Several targets were charged with trafficking fentanyl and the majority of targets are charged with distribution of a Class A narcotic (fentanyl) or distribution of a Class B narcotic (cocaine)," state police said.
"(Today's) operation targeted the distribution of narcotics — and the accompanying violence, fueling of drug addictions, and harmful impact on quality of life within the community — that was occurring in some Brockton neighborhoods," state police said.
The state police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction and Enforcement Team (CINRET) teamed up with Brockton police and the state police detective unit attached to the Plymouth County district attorney's office to apprehend the suspects involved in Brockton's open-air distribution of narcotics — which, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, is a "well-defined area where buyers and sellers [of drugs] can easily locate one another."
Following the two months of covert operations, 13 arrest teams "fanned out across Brockton to locate and arrest targets of the investigation on Tuesday morning," the state police said.
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“(The) operation shows that when law enforcement works with the community, it can reduce crime, prevent overdoses and remove dangerous felons from the streets," Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez said.
“This operation should serve as a message to those that would seek to deal and distribute drugs for profit in Brockton and sow violence and misery on its streets," State Police Col. Christopher Mason said.
“This city belongs to the countless good citizens and families that live and work here, not to those who do their worst to destroy the quality of life and jeopardize the safety of our neighbors,” he said.
The 16 people arrested were booked at the Brockton police station and are to be arraigned in Brockton District Court. They will be prosecuted by the Plymouth County DA's office.
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Arrest warrants made for illegal weapons
Additionally, state troopers executed two search warrants: one at the Cairn Road home of one of the trafficking targets and the other at a room at the Holiday Inn Express, "associated with two other suspects," the release said.
"Members of the arrest teams located an illegally owned, loaded semi-automatic pistol — at each location — one of which had a large-capacity magazine," the state police said. "At least 80 grams of cocaine were also recovered during the arrests."
“Drug dealers and traffickers — and the associated violence that goes along with them — are crumbling our communities and negatively affecting the quality of life here in Brockton,” District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said.
“And for those law-abiding citizens living in areas where drugs are being sold, they deserve better. We need to preserve the quality of life in our communities. Initiatives like this one today, do just that for residents. I commend the hard work of the Massachusetts State Police and Brockton Police for executing this successful warrant sweep today. I believe that the City of Brockton is a safer place today as a result of these efforts,” he said.
"Residents play a crucial role in keeping our communities safe by staying vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity or signs of crime. Together, we make Brockton better," Perez said.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton drug sweep targets 'open-air' dealers, 16 arrests
