SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit operation resulted in eight arrests and the seizure of cocaine and heroin/fentanyl during enforcement efforts to curtail open-air drug distribution in the Worthington Street area.
On Aug. 27 at approximately 3:15 p.m., members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Massachusetts State Police arrested three suspects on Sackett Place.
Detectives had been investigating open-air drug dealing on Sackett Place, a dead-end street off Worthington Street.
Detectives arrested Jonathan Fonseca-Tirado, Merkin Andrade and Rene Soto.
Detectives seized 78 capsules of cocaine and 36 packets of heroin/fentanyl from Andrade.
Detectives recovered seven packets of heroin/fentanyl from Fonseca-Tirado and a total of $1,081 from both suspects.
Six packets of heroin/fentanyl were recovered from Soto.
On Aug. 28 at approximately 2:45 p.m., members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit under the direction of Lieutenant Jaime Bruno and Sergeant Evan Donermeyer along with members of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department arrested five suspects on the 900 block of Worthington Street following an investigation into illegal distribution of heroin and cocaine.
FIU detectives conducting surveillance observed suspected drug transactions with Victor Tanan, Alfonso Ponce, Angel Caraballo, Guillermo Ortiz-Sanchez and Brenda Sanchez-Rojas working together.
Detectives converged on the area and detained the five suspects.
During a search of the suspects and the immediate area, detectives recovered 82 pills of Methadone Hydrochloride, 45 capsules of cocaine, 49 bags of heroin and $997 in cash.
All five suspects have prior drug distribution convictions.
Fonseca-Tirado, 32, is charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession with intent to distribute a Class A drug and possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug.
Andrade, 35, is charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession with intent to distribute a Class A drug and possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug.
Soto, 39, is charged with possession of a Class A drug.
Ponce, 37, is charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute Class A and Class B drugs as subsequent offenses.
Tanan, 60, is charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute Class A and Class B drugs as subsequent offenses.
Caraballo, 57, is charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute Class A and Class B drugs as subsequent offenses.
Ortiz-Sanchez, 53, is charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute Class A and Class B drugs as subsequent offenses.
Sanchez-Rojas, 52, is charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute Class A and Class B drugs as subsequent offenses.
