Countywide Drug Raids Executed Friday

Staff ReportsPrint Story | Email Story
Law enforcement breaks down a door on Howland Avenue in this screenshot from a Facebook video.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire District Attorney's Office confirmed countywide drug raids were executed on Friday. 
 
At least three occurred in North County — on Quaker Street and Howland Avenue in Adams and on Beaver Street in North Adams. 
 
Julia Sabourin, spokesperson for the DA's office said, the office "in conjunction with multiple local and state law enforcement agencies executed a countywide operation to interrupt a large-scale narcotics trafficking ring." 
 
The operation was the culmination of a multimonth-long investigation overseen by the DA's office and both narcotics and illegal firearms were sized during the operation.
 
Social media had been buzzing that the numerous vehicles parked in Cheshire in the morning were from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including at least one that was prominently lettered "State Police."
 
One resident posted a video showing law enforcement in camouflage busting down a door at 76-78 Howland Ave. and later a photo of people arrested outside the residence. 
 
Defendants arrested in connection with the operation will be arraigned in both Central and Northern District Court on Monday, Feb. 10, according to the DA's Office. 
 
The district attorney will hold a press conference on Monday detailing Friday's actions. 
 
Law enforcement agencies involved in Friday, Feb. 7, operation. 
  • Berkshire District Attorney's Office
  • Berkshire State Police Detective Unit
  • Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force
  • Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office 
  • State Police Crime Scene Services
  • State Police Special Tactical Operations Team  
  • Pittsfield Police Department 
  • North Adams Police Department 
  • Adams Police Department 
  • Franklin/Hampshire County Law Enforcement Task Force
  • Berkshire County Special Response Team
  • Lowell Police Department
  • Attorney General's Office, State Police
  • Middlesex State Police Detective Unit

Tags: drug trafficking,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

North Adams Airport Commissioners Review Badge Policy

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Airport Commission will rethink its badge policy after a discussion with airport users who shared their grievances regarding the current system.
 
The commissioners voted last week to approve a new fee structure for the airport — minus badge fees — as they hope to continue their discussion and craft a policy that creates fewer barriers for airport users.
 
Three years ago, former manager Bruce Goff was charged with cleaning up the badge system. At the time, it was unknown how many badges were in circulation; some airport users had multiple badges, while others had moved away or passed away.
 
Badges are required to access the airside of the airport. Under the current rules, all new badges were set to expire in three years, leaving airport users currently scrambling to obtain new ones. This process comes with a $50 fee.
 
Airport user and former commissioner Trevor Gilman said the sticking point for him was not the price, but the automatic shutdown of the badges upon expiration, as well as the process by which users must obtain brand-new physical cards.
 
"Why change out a badge for the same person? They are perfectly good badges. It is not the cost, it is the process. All of a sudden my badge expired and I can't get in. It takes forever to get one from the state," Gilman said. "If you lose a badge, certainly you should have to buy a new one because there is a cost. That is not the problem; it is the process."
 
He said other airports do not have expiration dates on their badges, adding that he has held one from another airport for 10 years. Gilman argued there should be no barriers to users obtaining a badge, suggesting that higher badge adoption allows the city to better track airport activity.
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories