Attleboro Cocaine Bust: 7 Kilograms Seized, 2 Arrested

ATTLEBORO, MA — Two New York men were arrested and more than $500,000 worth of cocaine was seized during an undercover drug bust in Attleboro Friday, according to authorities. Juan Luis Perez Garcia, 44, of the Bronx, New York, and Juan Artiles Taveras, of Lakewood, New Jersey, were charged with trafficking about 7 kilograms of cocaine. The investigation into the pair involved an informant and cocaine being shipped on a JetBlue flight from the Dominican Republic to Logan Airport, authorities said.

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Garcia and Taveras were part of a narcotics ring based in the Dominican Republic, according to acting U.S. Attorney William D. Weinreb.

"Arrangements were allegedly made for a suitcase containing cocaine to arrive on a JetBlue flight from the Dominican Republic to Boston (on Friday)," Weinreb said in a statement. "When the flight arrived in Boston, federal agents intercepted the suitcase and field-tested its contents which yielded a positive result for cocaine and weighed nearly seven kilos."

Garcia and Taveras then met with the informant and an undercover police officer at a parking lot in Attleboro to exchange money for the cocaine, Weinreb said, adding federal agents intercepted the men and placed them under arrest.

Garcia and Taveras were charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, which carries penalties of up to life in prison and a $10 million fine.

Seven kilograms of cocaine has a potential street value of more than $500,000.

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