SURVEILLANCE ENDS IN NORTH END HEROIN BUST

NEW BEDFORD -- Narcotics detectives this week broke up a major North End
heroin distribution operation, seizing some of the drug and a large amount
of drug processing and distribution paraphernalia.

After an investigation that lasted several months, detectives raided the
third floor, west apartment, of 82 Phillips Ave. Thursday at 9:30 p.m.

The detectives were acting on information gathered during their
investigation that the building was being used to supply a large amount of
heroin to the North End, especially in the North Front Street area, said
Narcotics Lt. Mel Wotton.

When the detectives entered the apartment, Lt. Wotton said, they surprised
three men sitting at a kitchen table processing cocaine for street sale,
increasing its volume by cutting it with the food supplement Inositol.

In their search of the apartment, detectives found 150 bags of heroin --
about $500 worth -- and more than 100 grams of cocaine, with a street value
of about $15,000.

When they searched the attic, detectives found an enormous amount of drug
paraphernalia.

Confiscated were 21,000 empty envelopes that are used to package heroin for
street distribution, 78 bars of Manite -- a cutting agent used to process
heroin -- a whale stamp used to stamp the envelopes of heroin and other
drug paraphernalia.

"We've never uncovered this amount of processing material," Lt. Wotton
said. "This was a major hit -- the fact that even though we didn't get a
large quantity of heroin, we know that this operation was supplying a lot
of people in the city."

Detectives also confiscated $900 in cash, and found receipts that suggest
money was being sent back to Puerto Rico.

Alejandro Benitez, 47, Eulogio DeJesus, 36, and Alejandro Martinez, 22,
were all arraigned yesterday in Third District Court on charges of
trafficking cocaine in excess of 100 grams, trafficking cocaine in excess
of 100 grams within 1000 feet of a school, possession of heroin with intent
to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute within 1000
feet of a school, and conspiracy to violate the controlled substance laws.
All list an address of 82 Phillips Ave.

Mr. Benitez was arraigned on a further charge of possession of heroin with
intent to distribute, subsequent offense.

Detective Paul J. Oliveira was the arresting officer in all three cases.

All were ordered held on $100,000 cash bail, and are next due in court on
Sept. 10 for a probable cause hearing.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)