25 arrested in Washington County during drug sweep

Vermont Business Magazine This week, the Vermont Drug Task Force partnered with the Montpelier Police Department, the Barre City Police Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to conduct criminal investigations and arrests into drug sales and drug trafficking in the Washington County area. These investigations have been ongoing for several months.

Vermont has seen and continues to see an increase in the trafficking and sale of heroin and fentanyl. Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous drug that is 80-100 times stronger than heroin. It continues to be a serious public safety concern for illegal drug users and for first responders who may be exposed to the drug. All of Vermont’s law enforcement agencies recognize the importance of working together as a team to target and arrest dangerous drug traffickers.

Multiple federal, state and local law-enforcement partners came together and during the past week carried out a successful arrest operation aimed at disrupting the flow of drugs to and from Vermont.

Forty-five members of federal, state and local law enforcement have been working together arresting drug dealers this past week. Twenty-five people have been arrested for sales of heroin and sales of crack cocaine. The defendants will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office. A list of defendants is at the end of this release.

Participating agencies in the arrest operation were:

• Vermont Drug Task Force
• Vermont State Police
• Montpelier Police Department
• Barre City Police Department
• South Burlington Police Department
• U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
• U.S. Marshals Service
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations
• U.S. Attorney’s Office
• Vermont Attorney General’s Office
• Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office

U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the extraordinary collaborative efforts of law enforcement.

“This enforcement action exemplifies the exceptional results we can achieve when we work together toward our shared goals of peace and safety for Vermonters,” Nolan said. “We are grateful to the many law enforcement officers and prosecutors who pitched in to make these arrests possible. This sweep could not have happened without the collaboration of law enforcement at all levels and the cooperation of federal, state, and local prosecutors. This series of arrests will make a substantial impact in Washington County and go a long toward promoting safety for its law abiding citizens. There is no place in Vermont for trafficking of opioids or for use of firearms in connection with the drug trade. We will continue to come together to make the state a hostile environment for those who think otherwise.”

“This joint effort shows residents of Vermont that law enforcement is keeping them and their communities safe,” said Col. Matthew T. Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police. “The Vermont Drug Task Force is committed to strong enforcement action, focusing efforts on the opioid crisis in Vermont. Drug dealers and traffickers will be aggressively pursued. At the same time, law enforcement, first responders and health professionals are here to help Vermonters who are battling addiction and want treatment.”

The agencies and departments involved will be hosting a Washington County Opioid Public Forum on July 10 in Barre City. More details of the event will be released as plans are finalized.

The public is encouraged to submit tips to law enforcement at www.VTips.info or by calling 844-848-8477.

Please direct questions to Adam Silverman, Vermont State Police PIO, at 802-241-5277 or [email protected]; and Capt. Kevin Lane, VSP Special Investigations commander, at [email protected].

The suspects are identified as:

Source: Vermont State Police 6.8.2018