On the streets of New Bedford's West End, undercover detectives from the Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau were on the hunt for drug-related crimes this past Wednesday, leading to the arrest of four men and the seizure of narcotics and a firearm. According to the New Bedford Police Department’s social media post, detectives watched a daytime drug transaction unfold on Studley Street, resulting in the arrest of Kevin Haslam, Lino Vertentes, and Calvin Rosa, after finding them in possession of crack cocaine during a traffic stop.
The day's events continued as detectives reportedly returned to the area where they spotted another deal involving Rosa and a man identified as Ahkari Jones, Rosa who was repeatedly caught up in back-to-back drug deals that day, a traffic stop followed and yielded 56.4 grams of crack cocaine. Jones, a resident of Pawtucket, faces serious charges including trafficking cocaine over 36 grams and a suspended license violation, The crime sweep didn't end there as Rosa was then seen entering another vehicle, which cops tagged as another drug deal attempt; he was stopped and detained once more that day.
The police didn't just stop with the street-level apprehensions; they executed a search warrant at Rosa's residence. They hit the jackpot, discovering more illicit drugs and a stolen firearm. "Detectives then executed a search warrant for ROSA’s residence where they seized two plastic bags of crack cocaine weighing 30.7 grams, a Smith & Wesson handgun which was later found to be stolen out of South Carolina, 9 rounds of .40 caliber ammo, and a digital scale," the department detailed in their announcement. Rosa is now facing multiple charges including the distribution and trafficking of Class B drugs, firearm offenses, and the reception of stolen property.
In their online notice, the New Bedford Police Department encourages anyone with further information to contribute to their efforts to dismantle local drug rings by reaching out anonymously. They provide a phone number, 508-99-CRIME, and a website for tips, signaling their openness to community collaboration in the ongoing battle against narcotics in the city.
