SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts State Police, in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Agency Springfield Resident Office (DEA SRO), and the Springfield Police Department Firearms Investigations Unit (FIU), announced the successful conclusion of a joint operation that led to the arrest of two Hampden County-based fentanyl/heroin dealers.
The operation centered on Anthony Perez, 31, of Springfield, who had been under investigation by the Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team (CINRET West) for several months, the Massachusetts State Police announced on their news blog. Perez, already known to law enforcement due to previous investigations and out on bail for other narcotic-related offenses, was suspected of distributing heroin/fentanyl from his Union Street residence.
On the evening of Wednesday, August 7, 2024, narcotic investigators observed Perez conducting a sale of suspected fentanyl. Following the transaction, officers initiated a traffic stop to arrest Perez. Despite resisting arrest, Perez was found in possession of 25 “packs” of heroin/fentanyl, totaling 2,500 bags, along with a loaded Glock 43 firearm and an extended magazine.
Perez was arrested for trafficking and weapon offenses, the Massachusetts State Police said. In addition to Perez, troopers also arrested Joel Rodriguez, 31, of Holyoke for trafficking heroin/fentanyl.
Later that evening, investigators executed a “knock and announce” search warrant at Perez’s residence, authorized by Hampden Superior Court.
The search led to the seizure of:
- Over 200 “packs” of suspected heroin/fentanyl, amounting to 21,200 bags
- A loaded Beretta Px4 Storm firearm with a round in the chamber and a 14-round magazine
- A tactical Garaysar Fear-105 semiautomatic shotgun with two large capacity magazines (unloaded)
- A Century Arms AK47 rifle with a filed-off serial number, loaded with a round in the chamber and a large capacity magazine
- A large sum of U.S. currency
Both Perez and Rodriguez were transported to the State Police Barracks in Springfield.
