By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
Police arrested eight people and seized fentanyl and heroin worth more than $300,000 on the street, along with six vehicles, $30,000 in cash and valuable gold jewelry, breaking up what they called a main funnel for shipping drugs from Providence to Southeastern Massachusetts in an operation they called “Operation Grape Juice”.
Arrests were made at five locations last Thursday, including on Grape Street in Providence, and “juice” is the street slang for heroin, said Major David Lapatin, commander of the Detective and Intelligence and Organized Crime Bureau of the Providence Police.
“They would obtain their narcotics in Providence,” said Maj. Lapatin in a morning news conference at the Providence Public Safety Complex where drugs, drug packaging materials, a large quantity of cash and a heavy gold chain were all put on display.
“From here, they would have their people travel in to Eastern Mass., Fall River – New Bedford area and sell the product there,” Lapatin said.
Drugs like heroin and fentanyl are “affecting all of the communities throughout the state,” said Colonel James Mendonca, Chief of the Central Falls Police.
“This is a poison, and we’re doing everything that we can collectively to take this dangerous drug off the street,” Col. Mendonca said.
The arrests were made last Thursday, March 26 at five locations, said Maj. Lapatin. All were charged with possession with intent to deliver one ounce to one kilogram of fentanyl and possession with intent to deliver fentanyl and conspiracy.
Providence police charged Daniel Gonzalez-Ramos, 30 and Luis E. Romero Peguero, 24. Pawtucket police charged Jose Moczo, 25, Adalberto Mercado, 30, Carlos Arroyo, 36, Alexander Arazena-Rosa, 38, Juan Ortega, 21 and Angel Vazquez, 41.
Maj. Lapatin said that along with Providence Police, the investigation included the Massachusetts State Police Bristol County Narcotics unit and the Pawtucket and Central Falls police departments.
