News

Jan 24, 2024

New Bedford men in international cocaine trafficking ring that uses Pokemon cases, arrested

Michael Silvia 2 hours ago Crime, Latest, Press Release Leave a comment

Michael Silvia 2 hours ago Crime, Latest, Press Release Leave a comment

"Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III's State Police Drug Task Force, working in conjunction with the US Postal Service, stopped an international cocaine trafficking operation, arrested two New Bedford men and seized two kilograms of cocaine hidden within Pokémon art cases that were shipped to the area from Puerto Rico.

The investigation into the international cocaine delivery service concluded on Tuesday morning when investigators with DA Quinn's State Police Unit, a US Postal Service inspector and detectives from the New Bedford Police Department set up a controlled delivery of a package that was sent from Puerto Rico to an apartment at 18 Viall Street.

At approximately 10:40 am Tuesday, an undercover postal inspector acting as a mail carrier delivered the package to the front porch of 18 Viall Street. Moments later, investigators surveilling the address witnessed Darren Casado Ruiz, 20, of 18 Viall Street retrieved the package and immediately begin jogging through the backyard towards Salisbury Street. The defendant then ran across Salisbury Street and enter a red Jeep Renegade which had arrived on the street minute earlier and was idling its engine.

Investigators converged on the vehicle at that point and identified the operator as Angel Rodriguez, 19, of New Bedford. After detaining both defendant and obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle, investigators opened the parcel and retrieved two yellow plastic Pokémon art cases that were heat sealed with plastic. After opening the cases, two kilograms of cocaine were found.

Both men were placed under arrest and charged with Trafficking in Excess of 200 Grams of Cocaine and Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Law. Investigators have also learned that five other similar packages sent from Puerto Rico had been delivered to both defendants’ addresses during the past two months.

"I’m very pleased that this investigation led to the seizure of a significant amount of cocaine. I would like to thank the various agencies for their cooperative effort, which resulted in these arrests," District Attorney Quinn said."