Nabbed with a boatload of blow, a south-end resident is now behind bars for running what cops say was a sizable cocaine empire from his humble abode. According to a Facebook post by the City of New Bedford Police Department, detectives busted 46-year-old Jose Soto-Torres after a meticulous investigation culminated in the raid of his apartment at 12 Roosevelt St., #2 on March 18.
The bust revealed Soto-Torres wasn't just sitting on a small stash, he had over 100 grams of the white stuff, and a sprinkling of heroin to boot, the cops found drug packaging gear and some cash likely proceeds of his alleged drug sales and $161 in cash that was seized could be the tip of a very illicit iceberg. This wasn't some simple street-corner operation; detectives allege this was a full-blown distribution effort with Soto-Torres at the helm, trafficking cocaine over 100 grams and he's been slapped with possession charges for a class A substance to top it off.
The police, armed with reliable information, arrested the suspected leader of a drug operation. Detective Nathaniel Almeida and his narcotics team meticulously tracked the suspect, believing him to be a major cocaine distributor. The raid wasn't impulsive; it was the culmination of careful planning and investigation.
In making the south-end a little safer, the police are now encouraging locals to be their eyes and ears; if you know something that can help keep these drugs off your block, you can drop a dime anonymously, whether it's a tip-off on a website or a whispered word to 508-99-CRIME, the authorities want your help in keeping the scourge at bay.
