Massachusetts State Police, narcotics detectives arrest suspected cocaine trafficker

After over a month-long investigation, authorities have arrested a Massachusetts man on 6 charges.

According to Massachusetts State Police, in January, the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County began an investigation into a suspected cocaine dealer operating in and around East Boston. Throughout January and February, investigators conducted multiple undercover purchases of cocaine from the suspect, identified as Julio Eduardo Zapata-Serna, 48, of East Boston.

Wednesday, Troopers in that unit obtained an arrest warrant from East Boston District Court for Zapata-Serna charging him with four counts of distribution of a Class B narcotic. Wednesday afternoon, Troopers and Boston Police Drug Control Unit detectives arrested Zapata-Serna on the warrant outside of his 114 Cottage Street residence and found cocaine and a large amount of money on him during the arrest. He was booked at the State Police-Tunnels Barracks.

Wednesday night, the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit and BPD detectives executed a search warrant at Zapata-Serna’s apartment and seized approximately 151 grams of suspected cocaine. As a result of that seizure, Zapata-Serna will additionally be charged with trafficking a Class B narcotic and possession of a Class B narcotic with intent to distribute. He was held at Nashua Street Jail overnight and was expected to be arraigned Thursday in East Boston District Court.