State Police make local arrest after 3 guns, fentanyl, cocaine, press, extended magazine, money counter, seized

The Rhode Island State Police announced that on Wednesday, the Rhode Island State Police HIDTA Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration Providence Resident Office concluded a narcotics and firearms investigation within the City of Pawtucket. As a result of this investigation, a court-authorized search warrant was executed at the residence located at Woodhaven Road, Pawtucket. Based on illegal contraband located and seized on scene, members of the HIDTA Task Force charged 38-year-old Erick Santana of Pawtucket with numerous firearms and narcotics offenses.

During the execution of a court-authorized search warrant, members of the State Police HIDTA Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration Providence Resident Office located and seized considerable amounts of illegal firearms and equipment utilized to process and manufacture illegal narcotics. Specifically, an Omni .556 caliber semi-automatic assault rifle, a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Smith and Wesson .357 revolver, and an extended magazine were seized. Approximately 266 grams of Fentanyl, 221 grams of Cocaine, a money counter, kilogram press, and equipment utilized to further process, repackage, and distribute illegal narcotics were also seized.

Narcotics charges include the Possession With the Intent to Deliver over 1 oz of a Schedule II Controlled Substance – Fentanyl, Possession With the Intent to Deliver over 1 oz of a Schedule II Controlled Substance – Cocaine, and the Possession With the Intent to Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substances – Fentanyl and Cocaine. Weapons charges include Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons Prohibited, Possession of Firearms While Committing Controlled Substance Violations, and Large Capacity Feeding Devices Prohibited.

This seizure is the direct result of collaborative efforts between numerous law enforcement agencies assisting the Rhode Island State Police in their pursuit of violent, and often armed narcotics distributors. The success of these investigations is attributed to the partnerships of the Rhode Island State Police and Drug Enforcement Administration, and the participating agencies in their respective Task Forces.

The Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force is comprised of members from the Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police Department, Cranston Police Department, North Providence Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Rhode Island National Guard Counterdrug Program.