Nine Charged In Brockton Drug Bust

BROCKTON, MA — More than 100 law enforcement officials were in Brockton Thursday to arrest nine people associated with a drug operation in the city.

Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz announced the arrests Thursday. All nine suspects were scheduled to appear in court later in the day.

The suspects were arrested in the early hours, with law enforcement officials gathering at 4 a.m. Much of the year-long investigation was based on a wiretap between 43-year-old Jesus Silva-Santiago and 49-year-old Daniel Sweeting. Silva-Santiago was the main target and will face charges of trafficking fentanyl.

When Silva-Santiago was arrested on Market Street, police allegedly found 1,500 grams of fentanyl, a 9mm handgun, and $10,000 in cash. Other searches and arrests were conducted on Nickerson Street, Colonel Bell Drive, Cherry Street, Cary Street, and in Ashland.

Sweeting was arrested on Cherry Street and police allegedly found 28 grams of fentanyl at the scene.

"The arrest today, we are hopeful they are going to have a positive affect on the quality of life in Brockton," Cruz said.

Silva-Santiago was previously convicted of first degree murder but the state Supreme Judicial Court overturned the conviction in 2008 and he was acquitted in 2010. He later served time for a heroin charge and assault and battery on a police officer.

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