Norwalk Woman Arrested in Connection with 'Heroin Drug Factory'

NORWALK, CT - A 21-year-old Norwalk woman was arrested Friday in connection with last week's major heroin distribution arrests on Leuvine Street.

Hilary Guillen, the girlfriend of suspected heroin dealer Sylvester Edward, was allegedly continuing to operate her boyfriend's heroin distribution ring while Edward is incarcerated, according to police.

Edward, Michael Ross and Tanisha Edward were arrested on April 6 and 469 bags of heroin were seized. Guillen was not home on Leuvine Street when the warrant was executed last week.

The investigation stemmed from a joint operation between the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics taskforce southwest office and the Norwalk Police Department Special Services Division.

"Investigators had determined through hours of surveillance on Guillen that the duo had a 'Stash House' in the Rowayton area of town," said Lt. James Walsh, head of the Special Services Division, in a statement. "Information had been gleaned that this stash location was the spot where the majority of the narcotics were stored and were packaged for distribution."

By trailing Guillen over the course of multiple days, police were able to identify the location of the stash house, in the Rowayton Woods Condominium complex off Highland Avenue, and at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Friday she was arrested after leaving the home.

A search of Guillen uncovered "six bundles of heroin (60 bags)" in her pants, according to police. Bundles contain 10 small bags each. All the bags were stamped with the brand name “Revenge,” according to police.

The owner of the Rowayton Woods condo, who also lived in the unit, told police that she had rented a room to Guillen beginning in December 2015, and that Edward was a frequent visitor.

"Upon execution of the search warrant [at the condo], officers discovered a full heroin drug factory in the rented room, which had been kept, locked from the owner," police said.

At this time, police said they believe that the homeowner was unaware of the activities being conducted by Edward and Guillen.

The following items were discovered in the rented room:

• 671 bags of packaged heroin stamped “Revenge “
• 49.1 grams of heroin
• Over 7000 empty bags ready to be bagged
• Electronic scale
• Multiple ounces of cutting agent
• Electronic blender for processing the heroin and cutting agents
• Hundreds of rubber bands for bundling the packaged heroin
• Hundreds of plastic bags for packaging
• Ink stamp for marking product

"Evidence was also located inside the room that both Edward and Guillen had dominion and control over the premises and were operating a drug factory to facilitate their heroin distribution in the City Of Norwalk," said police. "Investigators will be pursuing charges against Edward as a result of the heroin found in the stash house [Friday]. The 49.1 grams of heroin powder that was located inside this location when processed with cutting agents has the capability of filling over 3,000 individual bags for street sale."

Guillen was charged with the following:

• Possession of Narcotics
• Possession of Narcotics within 1,500 Feet of a School
• Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell
• Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell within 1,500 Feet of a School
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia within 1,500 Feet of a School
• Operating a Drug Factory
• Operation of a Motor Vehicle while using a Hand-held Telephone or Mobile Electronic Device
• Operating a Motor Vehicle without a License
• Failure to Wear Seatbelt
• Failure to Have Tint Sticker

Photos: Hilary Guillen; drugs and items seized from the rented room at the Rowayton Woods Condominium complex. Photo credit: Norwalk Police Department