Man Caught With $160,000 Worth of Pot in Manchester

A narcotics taskforce conducting a surveillance operation in Manchester Tuesday arrested a Hartford man who was in possession of about 44 pounds of marijuana.

Sixto Bautista, 31, is charged with possession of greater than four ounces of marijuana, possession with intent to sell, possession within 1500 feet of a school and possession with intent to sell within 1500 feet of a school.

He is being held on $750,000 bond.

Members of the East Central Narcotics Taskforce, with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspectors Office, conducted a surveillance operation in the area of 143 Main Street in Manchester. The operation targeted a street-level marijuana dealer, and stemmed from an investigation into suspicious activity at that address.

During the surveillance operation, the dealer was identified as Bautista, who was taken into custody after he was found to have in his vehicle two large boxes containing marijuana.

As a result of this investigation, taskforce officers seized a 2004 Toyota Sequoia SUV and approximately 44 pounds of marijuana. Street value of the drugs is estimated at $160,000.

The East Central Narcotics Taskforce, in cooperation with other municipal and federal law enforcement agencies, is interested in stopping illegal narcotics sales and use in the Manchester, South Windsor, Vernon and Glastonbury communities.

Anyone with information pertaining to any illicit drug activity is asked to contact the East Central Narcotics Taskforce at (860) 645-5548. All calls will remain confidential.

Photos courtesy of Manchester Police Department