New Bedford man sentenced in record-breaking 35-pound drug bust in Fall River Superior Court

A local man pled guilty in Fall River Superior Court concerning a record-breaking drug bust.

According to police, on May 1st, 2024, New Bedford Detective Jonathan Miranda concluded his investigation into a cocaine delivery service, which culminated in the execution of three search warrants. One for Farm St., one for Deane St., and one for a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee connected to the target of the investigation, 31-year-old Gilberto Collazo.

As a result of these searches, detectives made the largest seizure of cocaine in the history of New Bedford PD. 17 kilos (over 35 pounds) were located, boasting a street value of approximately one million dollars.

Collazo was charged with Trafficking in Excess of Two Hundred Grams of Cocaine.

On Monday, Collazoo pled guilty to a lesser charge of Trafficking in Excess of One Hundred Grams but Less Than 200 Grams of Cocaine.

He was sentenced to not less than 8 years in prison to not more than 10 1/2 years with credit of 839 days already served.