State Police, partners, arrest 6 after 6.5 kilos of drugs, 4 guns, $70k in cash seized

The Rhode Island State Police has announced that on Thursday, May 2, 2024, members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, assisted by members of the Rhode Island State Police Detective Bureau and Uniform Bureau, the Providence Police Department, Cranston Police Department, Johnston Police Department, United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, arrested six individuals for narcotics and firearms offenses. These seizures and arrests were the result of an investigation initiated by the Rhode Island State Police HIDTA Task Force regarding a high-level narcotics and firearms distribution network operating within multiple jurisdictions throughout the State of Rhode Island.

At the conclusion of this investigation, court authorized search warrants were executed at Douglas Avenue, Cranston Street, Valley Street, and Messina Street in Providence, Shore Drive in Johnston, Dyer Avenue in Cranston, and Piave Street/Woonasquatucket Avenue in North Providence.

During these search warrants, members of the HIDTA Task Force seized approximately 3.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.5 kilograms of cocaine, 375 grams of methamphetamine, narcotics distribution materials, kilogram pressing equipment, a Shadow Systems 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Core Government .556 semi-automatic assault rifle, a Walther 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a RML .556 semi-automatic assault rifle with an obliterated serial number, and over $70,000 in cash.

The following subjects were formally charged with numerous narcotics and firearms charges as co-defendants in a criminal conspiracy;

Kejuan Mitchell, age 31, of Providence, Rhode Island

Edison Kelly Lopez, age 30, of North Providence, Rhode Island

Catalino Lopez, age 47, of North Providence, Rhode Island

Joel Kennedy, age 36, of Providence, Rhode Island

Andres Campbell, age 33, of Providence, Rhode Island

Hamlet Lopez, age 33, of Johnston, Rhode Island

Narcotics charges include possession of fentanyl in excess of 1 kilogram, possession of cocaine in excess of 1 kilogram, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance (cocaine), possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance (fentanyl), and conspiracy to violate the uniform controlled substances act. 

Weapons charges include possession of firearms while committing controlled substance violations, possession of firearms by certain persons prohibited, large capacity feeding devices prohibited, and alteration of marks and identification on a firearm.

All subjects were arraigned at 6^th Division District Court and were held without bail.

The Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force is comprised of members from the Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Middletown Police Department, Bristol Police Department, Johnston Police Department, Cranston Police Department, DEA Providence District Office, and Rhode Island National Guard Counterdrug Program.