Stoneham Fentanyl Dealers Nabbed: Police

STONEHAM, MA — Two Mattapan men were arrested Wednesday for dealing fentanyl in Stoneham, police said. Michael Ruiz and Carlos Briosos-Collantes - who may have been using false identities - were arrested after police were surveilling alleged drug activity in a neighborhood, according to Chief James McIntyre.

Police said they saw Ruiz, 32, and Briosos-Collantes, 36, make a drug deal in the area of San Jose Terrace and Lee Street. Officers followed a Jeep with the two men inside to a nearby store. As the men came out of the store, police approached them for questioning.

Police said they saw a clear plastic bag with a tan powdery substance in the front seat of the Jeep, and upon further inspection multiple bags of what was believed to be heroin or fentanyl in the center console.

Police ended up seizing nearly 22 grams of fentanyl, $1,616 in cash, three cell phones, and the Jeep.

Briosos-Collantes and Ruiz were charged with trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to violate the drug law, and forgery or misuse of a license. While they were being booked, police discovered they may have been using false identities.

"Due to the good work of our officers, lives were potentially saved by taking the dangerous drug fentanyl off the street," McIntyre said.

The suspects were arraigned Thursday in Woburn District Court.

Photos via Stoneham Police. Briosos-Collantes (left) and Ruiz (right)