State Police Arrest Three, Seize $6.6 Million Of Cocaine And Cash
Woonsocket Police played a major role in the Jan. 29 drug bust at a North Kingstown warehouse, believed to be the largest seizure of drugs and cash in Rhode Island history.
The Rhode Island State Police seized nearly $6.6 million in cocaine and cash at a North Kingstown warehouse in what may be the largest drug bust in state history. The Woonsocket Police Department worked with the DEA and Rhode Island State Police in a joint partnership resulting Monday night's bust.
Police searched the warehouse at 376 Dry Bridge Road, Unit A-3 on Jan. 29, finding 66 kilograms of cocaine in the warehouse and a tow truck inside the building. The seizure followed a four-month-long investigation by the State Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Rhode Island Task Force into the shipment of narcotics from the west coast to Rhode Island using tractor trailers.
Police arrested Rodrigo Armanda Saucedo, 31, of California, Andrew Rios, 39, of California, and Adilson Antonio Reyes, 29, of Utah, in connection with the drug bust. Reyes was arrested at a West Greenwich hotel while Saucedo and Rios were arrested at the warehouse on Dry Bridge Road during the search, where police found 31 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment of a car along with $1.2 million in a hidden compartment in Saucedo's 2000 Peterbilt. (Surveillance of the facility found Saucedo's Peterbilt was seen at the warehouse on multiple occasions.) An additional 35 kilograms of cocaine was found in a tow truck inside the storage facility.
Combined, police peg the worth of the cocaine and currency to be about $6.6 million, possibly making it the largest seizure of drugs and cash in Rhode Island history, according to a release from the state police.
Reyes, Saucedo and Rios were arrainged Jan. 31 at Washington County Courthouse on charges of possession of cocaine in excess of one kilogram, posession of cocaine with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess cocaine in excess of one kilogram, and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to deliver. All three were held without bail and detained at the ACI.
"Our vice unit played a vital role in the investigation," said Det. Lt. Eugene Jalette.
The state police have scheduled a press conference 2 p.m. Thursday at its headquarters in Scituate.
Yvette M Ayotte
3:04 pm on Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Does that mean that our police department will get a part of that loot???? Hope so!!
Good job!!!
Kristania Reynolds
9:57 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
amazing job ~! no one got injuries or nothing an a great outcome no death resulting amazing!