Tableful Of Drugs, A Gun And Cash Seized In Manchester Raid

MANCHESTER, CT — A raid of a Manchester residence by a regional drug task force netted a table full of drugs, a gun and related items, police said.

The raid on Friday was part of an investigation that began this month into activity at 66 Walnut St., according to a task force report. The East Central Narcotics Task Force was investigating a drug processing operation at the residence of 42-year-old Jose Acevedo, the report indicates.

On Friday, task force members and Manchester police with agents from the federal the Drug Enforcement Agency, executed the search warrant at the home. The regional SWAT team was also involved because it was believed Acevedo was armed, according to a report.

The search of the Walnut Street uncovered an "extensive narcotics operation consistent with the milling and packaging of fentanyl," according to a report.

The report said that investigators discovered sifters, grinders, as well as "thousands of bags" intended for packaging fentanyl and other narcotics.

Investigators seized approximately 7.5 kilograms of suspected bulk fentanyl, an additional 7,500 prepackaged wax folds containing suspected fentanyl, nearly 12 ounces of suspected powder cocaine and 1.5 ounces of crack cocaine.

Also confiscated was a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol with an "obliterated" serial number and nearly $10,000 in U.S. currency, the report indicated. It was stored in an unsecured dresser drawer in the same room in which a toddler stays, according to the report.

There children were in the home in all, police said.

• Acevedo was taken into custody and charged with:
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Possession of cocaine w/ intent to sell
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Risk of Injury to a child (3 counts)

Acevedo was held over the weekend on a $250,000 surety bond.

A second person who lived at the address, 21-year-old Adnel Ortega, was taken into custody and charged with:

• Alteration of a firearm identification mark
• Criminally negligent storage of a firearm
• Risk of injury to a child

Adnel posted a $50,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court in Manchester on Dec. 6.