BOSTON, Dec. 11, 2013—A three-month plainclothes interagency drug investigation netted eight accused Winthrop drug dealers and two additional offenders with open warrants, courtesy of Winthrop Police, State Police, and detectives assigned to the Suffolk DA’s office.
The sweep targeted offenders from whom plainclothes detectives had bought narcotics during controlled purchases that began in September to curb drug distribution and quality-of-life offenses in the peninsular town.
Officers and detectives from the Revere Police Department assisted in the arrests this morning, as did troopers from the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit and State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, who arrested two additional defendants who were not part of the drug investigation but who had open warrants for their arrests.
“This was more than just a drug sweep,” Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty said. “It was a targeted investigation to increase the quality of life for all of Winthrop. Nearly every one of these offenders made statements to undercover investigators about violent crimes they’d previously committed or planned to commit in the future.”
Arrested this morning were the following Winthrop residents:
Arrested on unrelated warrants were:
Based on intelligence provided by Winthrop Police and developed through their own efforts, plainclothes troopers from the State Police Gang Unit and Suffolk County Detective Unit repeatedly purchased cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and prescription pills from the defendants between September and December. Those purchases were documented and provided the basis for arrest warrants executed today. Additionally, State Police reviewed open warrants for defendants residing in Winthrop, sending units to support the narcotics sweep and apprehend the additional targets.
“One of the most important missions of the State Police to assist local police with in-depth investigations of drug dealing and violent crime within our cities our towns,” said Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “Like similar operations we undertake regularly throughout the state, this morning’s sweep in Winthrop was an important effort toward enhancing public safety in the town. We were honored to partner with Chief Delehanty, District Attorney Conley, and their investigators.”
“There’s a perception that drugs are a big city problem,” Conley said. “But addiction and abuse are problems even in small towns. And more than that, they fuel other crimes – larcenies, robberies, and violent offenses have all been linked to the drug trade that we’re all trying to suppress. When it comes to tackling this problem, we’re all on the same team.”
–30–
All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.