REGIONAL POLICE DRUG TEAM MAKES BIG BUST

TIVERTON, R.I. -- Two Massachusetts fugitives from justice who might have
been crossing the state border to sell drugs were arrested yesterday
morning, police said. The arrests were part of an interstate police
investigation.

Two others also were arrested in the joint operation involving Tiverton,
Westport and Fall River police.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service participated in the three-month
investigation, which netted about $3,000 worth of cocaine.

The raid was conducted at 1070 Crandall Road.

Arrested were Manuel Andujar, 25; Julio Luna, 28; Carlos F. Nunez, 24; and
Damaris A. Perez, 23.

Mr. Andujar was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to deliver,
obstruction of justice and resisting arrest.

Mr. Luna was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and
with being a fugitive from justice in Massachusetts.

Mr. Nunez faces charges of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver,
obstruction of justice and resisting arrest.

Mrs. Perez, was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to deliver,
obstruction of justice and being a fugitive from justice in Massachusetts.

The four people are natives of the Dominican Republic. One of them had been
deported on drug violations and managed to get back into the country, INS
officials said.

Tiverton police said they believe the group was crossing the border into
Massachusetts to sell the drugs.

They are investigating if the group may be part of a larger drug operation
selling drugs in the New Bedford and Fall River area.

"We do believe one of them is also an illegal re-entry -- that is what INS
is telling us," said Tiverton Police Lt. Thomas Kaminski.

Police obtained a search warrant from the Newport District Court before the
raid. In the raid they confiscated $7,500 in cash found in a safe-like box.

They also seized jewelry, and communication devices believed to have been
used in a drug delivery system.

As police burst through the door they heard the sound of a toilet flushing.
"We were able to seize and find the drugs they had flushed in the piping at
the dwelling," Lt. Kaminski said. "It was about 25 feet from the actual
toilet bowl when it was recovered."

When asked how police located the bundle of drugs, Lt. Kaminski laughed,
saying it was a trade secret. "But it is nice when you have a detective
that is also a plumber," he said.

The South Bristol Counter-Crime Task Force consists of the Tiverton,
Westport, Little Compton, and Dartmouth police departments along with the
Bristol County sheriff's canine unit.

The Rhode Island fugitive task force and the Fall River Police Department
also participated.