Rocky Hill Police Help Bust Hartford-Based Drug Ring

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford-based heroin and fentanyl distribution ring was busted Thursday with the arrests of 13 individuals from six area cities and towns, according to U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly.

An investigation of an organization that was trafficking large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and other narcotics in Connecticut and western Massachusetts by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began in Oct. 2016. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that members of the organization were receiving bulk quantities of heroin and fentanyl from out-of-state suppliers. They then stored, processed and packaged the heroin/fentanyl in multiple locations, including apartments at 280 Collins Street in Hartford, where some of the defendants also resided, and then distributed the drug in the Hartford, Springfield, Mass. and Holyoke, Mass. areas, Daly said.

A significant amount of drug trafficking activity occurred at Neighborhood Supermarket, located at 316 Farmington Avenue in Hartford, Daly said.

Law enforcement officials executed 12 search warrants in Connecticut and Massachusetts and seized approximately 20 kilograms of suspected heroin, most of which was packaged for resale in hundreds of thousands of bags. Investigators also seized numerous vials of Xylazine, a horse tranquilizer used by narcotics traffickers as a heroin additive. Seven firearms also were seized, Daly said.

“The seizure of 20 kilos of heroin makes clear this was a major drug distribution operation in the Hartford area,” Daly said. “The opioid epidemic continues to destroy lives in every corner of Connecticut. In partnership with the DEA, and the state and local police, we will continue to prioritize the prosecution of these responsible for trafficking this deadly drug.”

The complaint charges the defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin, and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin. Arrested were:

• Joel Cordero, 37, of Meriden
• Edwin Reyes, 34, of Hartford
• Gisel de la Cruz, 43, of East Hartford
• Angel DeJesus-Concepcion, a.k.a. “Blue,” 40, of East Hartford
• Anthony Acosta, 28, of New Britain
• Gabriel Cordero, 30, of Hartford
• Alexander Pena, 25, of East Hartford
• Amarilis Pirela, 38, of Springfield, Mass.
• Jonathan Velez, 23, of Springfield, Mass.
• Henry Caraballo, 26, of Hartford
• Fernando Tolentino, Jr., a.k.a. “Humacao,” 46, of Hartford
• Daily Pena, 39, of Hartford
• Angel Rijo-Castillo, 41, of Guttenberg, N.J.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments. Agencies assisting the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service and Connecticut State Police.

Patch file photo