What started as a routine late-night traffic stop in Fall River ended with a 43-year-old local man in handcuffs and a stash of suspected narcotics pulled from a magnetic box, according to police. Investigators say the box held roughly 115 grams of suspected fentanyl, about 115 grams of suspected cocaine, close to 26 grams of suspected methamphetamine pills, and smaller amounts of ketamine, Suboxone films and prescription pills.
According to Newport Dispatch, C.A.S.T. detectives stopped the vehicle at about 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday after observing several traffic violations in the Corky Row neighborhood and onto Plymouth Avenue. Detectives said they noticed what they described as furtive movements from a rear passenger later identified as Joshua Mazzilli, removed him from the car for safety reasons, and then recovered the magnetic box within his immediate reach. Mazzilli was arrested and booked on multiple trafficking and possession charges.
What the charges mean
Under state law, trafficking thresholds quickly ramp up potential prison time once certain weights are hit. A bill summary from the Joint Committee on the Judiciary notes that trafficking 10 grams or more of fentanyl carries a 3½-year mandatory minimum sentence, while trafficking between 100 and 200 grams of heroin, morphine or an opiate mixture carries an eight-year mandatory minimum, along with additional ranges and fines. The Joint Committee on the Judiciary outlines those thresholds and penalties.
Regional enforcement context
Police and prosecutors in Bristol County have been ramping up coordinated narcotics enforcement in recent years, launching multi-agency investigations that focus heavily on fentanyl and cocaine distribution. In an April 2025 operation, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office reported that officers seized more than two kilograms of cocaine and over a kilogram of fentanyl from locations in Fall River and nearby communities, highlighting the scale of alleged trafficking activity in the region. The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office provided details on that sweep.
Court status and next steps
Newport Dispatch reports that Mazzilli, 43, was taken into custody and booked on charges that include trafficking heroin/opium/morphine (100 grams or more), trafficking cocaine (100 grams or more), trafficking methamphetamine (18 grams or more), and multiple possession counts. The initial report did not list an arraignment date, and court records or a public statement from the Fall River Police Department were not immediately available. Newport Dispatch provided the first published account of the arrest.
All charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This story will be updated as court filings or official statements become available.
