Latest news with #FBIWesternMassachusettsGangTaskForce
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Multi-agency effort in Holyoke leads to 3 arrests, loaded gun, seizure of drugs
HOLYOKE — Three people were arrested after a multi-agency investigation led police to an illegal loaded gun, bagged drugs, $725 in cash, a Taser and more. Felix Vargas, 46, and Erica Weeks, 38, of Holyoke, both face several charges, including firearm possession without a license; carrying a loaded gun without a license; having ammunition without a license; possession of a gun while committing a crime; trafficking cocaine, 36 to 100 grams; and having a stun gun. Christy Suarez, 45, of Holyoke, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. For the past few months, the multi-agency investigation focused on Vargas, who was suspected of distributing cocaine from his apartment on Hampden Street, Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan said. On Friday, detectives were granted a search warrant for the apartment and Vargas' car. Early in the morning on Tuesday, around 5:30 a.m., officers from the Holyoke Police Narcotics Unit, the FBI Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, the Chicopee Police Narcotics Unit, and the Hampden County Sheriff's Department carried out a search warrant at his address. Keenan said, inside the apartment, officers detained Weeks, Suarez and Vargas. While being handcuffed, Vargas threw three bags of powder cocaine over a railing. After his arrest, police found two more bags of cocaine in his sneaker, and then three more bags in the police car he was taken in, Keenan said, totaling about 26 bags of crack cocaine and 10 bags of powder cocaine. Police also found a gun magazine. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Holyoke Police seize kilo of cocaine, heroin and three firearms in drug bust
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – A months-long narcotics investigation has resulted in the arrest of a Holyoke man and the seizure of a significant amount of drugs and firearms. According to Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan, the investigation, launched in February 2025 in partnership with the FBI Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, targeted 25-year-old Roberto Muniz of Holyoke, and alleged drug activity at two Holyoke addresses: an apartment at 196 Oak Street and a secondary stash location at 805 High Street. On Wednesday, May 13, police were granted a search warrant from Holyoke District Court for the two addresses and a vehicle linked to the investigation. At approximately 6 a.m. on Thursday, May 15, multiple agencies executed the warrants in a coordinated operation. Participating units included the Holyoke Police Department Narcotics Unit, FBI Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Hampden County Sheriff's Department, and Massachusetts State Police. At the Oak Street residence, officers detained a female and five other individuals found inside, including Muniz. Two loaded firearms, an additional magazine, and marijuana were recovered at the scene. Muniz was taken into custody. At the same time, agents executed the search at 805 High Street, where they seized a loaded large-capacity firearm, additional ammunition, over 1,000 grams of suspected crack cocaine and cocaine, approximately 100 bags of heroin/fentanyl, and roughly five pounds of marijuana. The firearm recovered at this location was reported stolen from Virginia. In a search of the related vehicle, authorities seized more than $1,000 in cash. Roberto Muniz, 35, of Holyoke, faces multiple charges, including: Possession of a Class A Drug Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug Cocaine Trafficking (200+ grams) Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm During the Commission of a Felony Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class D Drug Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card Receiving Stolen Property Less than $1,200 Possession of a Firearm Without an FID Card – Subsequent Offense Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that additional charges may be pending. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
