NEW BEDFORD — Two men were arrested following a narcotics investigation that led to the seizure of fentanyl, cocaine, cash and a loaded firearm in the city’s South End.
Detective Nathan Almeida was conducting surveillance near Delano Street on Friday when he observed a known drug dealer with a suspended driver’s license operating a motor vehicle at approximately 7:15 p.m.
Police said the individual pulled over and briefly interacted with Jonathan Salazar, 30, of 77 Delano Street, Apt. 2, in what Almeida believed was a narcotics transaction.
Detectives later observed Salazar operating a vehicle with passenger Edmilson Menes Gomes, 29, of 917 County Street.
Police conducted a traffic stop and subsequent search that led to the discovery of 23.6 grams of fentanyl, 16.9 grams of cocaine, narcotics packaging materials and $873 in currency.
Salazar was arrested and a search warrant was executed at his residence.
Inside the apartment, detectives found 22.5 grams of suspected fentanyl, 17.6 grams of crack cocaine and a loaded Walther PPKS .380 handgun with eight rounds of ammunition.
Police said Salazar does not possess a license to carry a firearm.
Salazar was charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, conspiracy to violate the drug law, trafficking in 36 grams or more of fentanyl, trafficking in 18 grams or more of cocaine, illegally attached plates, and possession of a firearm and ammunition without an FID card.
Gomes was charged with conspiracy to violate the drug law, trafficking in 18 grams or more of fentanyl, and possession to distribute a Class B drug.
