Massachusetts State Police Bristol County Narcotics Unit seizes Fentanyl, cash, after months-long investigation

A 29-year-old alleged Fentanyl trafficker was arrested late last week and nearly 200 grams of suspected Fentanyl was seized as a result of a months-long investigation by members of the Massachusetts State Police Bristol County Narcotics Unit assigned to District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III’s office.

During the last several months, DA Quinn’s state police narcotics unit, working with members of the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, conducted the joint investigation into Fentanyl trafficking in Fall River. As a result of information obtained during the investigation of a fatal drug overdose, the target of the investigation was identified as the defendant, Christhian Irizarry, who was residing at Maple Gardens in Fall River.

During the course of the investigation, Troopers completed three undercover purchases of suspected Fentanyl from the defendant, who was using his Maple Gardens apartment as a base of operations for the distribution of Fentanyl.

On March 22, investigators sought and obtained a search warrant for Irizarry’s address. On March 23, the investigators, joined by Troopers from the Attorney General’s Office and members of the Fall River Police Department, initiated a fourth and final undercover drug buy. Once the transaction was completed, Irizarry was taken into custody without incident. The investigators then executed the search warrant at the defendant’s residence, where they located and seized 192 grams of suspected Fentanyl and 32 sublingual films of Suboxone.

Irizarry was charged with three counts of Trafficking Fentanyl, one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and one count of Possession of a Class B drug.

“I’m very pleased that a significant amount of Fentanyl, which has caused an increase in overdoses, was taken off the street as a result of our joint investigative effort,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This arrest and seizure was the result of a follow up to a previous investigation into narcotics trafficking in the area.”