Other Crime - CT Drug Bust

Hartford police nab 5 suspects, seize more than $1 million worth of heroin

POSTED 7:00 AM, JULY 10, 2018, BY DOUG STEWART, UPDATED AT 02:57PM, JULY 10, 2018





HARTFORD — Police in Hartford have arrested five people, seized more than 20 pounds of heroin and confiscated several guns in three drug raids around the city.

Officers executing a warrant Monday said they found almost 20 pounds of heroin with a street value of more than $1 million and two guns at a self-storage facility on Capitol Avenue.

Police said they found two more guns, 10,000 bags of heroin, and thousands of dollars in cash at a Maple Avenue apartment. Two men were arrested at that location.

Three more people were arrested at a Goshen Street home where police also found about 250 bags of heroin, crack cocaine and about $7,000 in cash. They also found three guns, two of which had been reported stolen.

Police arrested Francisco Leon, 38, of Hartford, and charged him with criminal possession of a firearm, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell and operating a drug factory.

They also arrested Alberto Gonzalez, 30, of Hartford, and charged him with criminal possession of a firearm, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell and operating a drug factory. Detectives obtained a warrant and searched 777 Maple Ave. They seized a semi-automatic firearm, more than 10,000 bags of heroin and approximately $5,000 in cash.

In a separate arrest, Orlando Soto, 27, of Hartford, was charged with three counts of criminal possession of a firearm, three counts of weapons in a motor vehicle, two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, two counts of possession of narcotics, and two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell.

David Rodriguez, 24, of Hartford ,was charged with three counts of criminal possession of a firearm, three counts of weapons in a motor vehicle, two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, two counts of possession of narcotics, two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell, and interfering with police.

Antonio Santiago, 28, of Hartford, was charged with three counts of criminal possession of a firearm, three counts of weapons in a motor vehicle, two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, wo counts of possession of narcotics, two counts possession of narcotics with intent to sell, and interfering with police.

Police raided 15-17 Goshen Street Sunday, and arrested the three suspects, who were found to be in possession of drugs and stolen guns. As a result of the investigation and operation, a total of three guns – two of which were reported stolen, approximately 250 bags of heroin, crack cocaine and approximately $7,000 in cash was seized.

In a third case, detectives identified several suspects who they said were selling of large quantities of heroin and believed to be armed. Detectives obtained a search warrant for 755 Capitol Ave., U-Haul Self Storage and on Sunday police seized nine kilos of heroin with an estimated street value of more than $1 million, along with two semi-automatics. Police said the investigation remains ongoing with drugs and gun charges pending.