One person was arrested and a second remains at large after $250,000 worth of drugs were seized by police who responded to a motor vehicle accident in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, on Wednesday.
At 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, Rehoboth Police said they responded to a report of a disturbance in progress in the area of 80 County Street. Upon arrival, police noticed two vehicles in the roadway. A motor vehicle accident had just occurred, and two men were standing next to the vehicles arguing.
As police were investigating the crash, one of the men removed a large suitcase from the rear of one of the vehicles and fled toward the woods. The man continued a short distance into the woods, abandoned the suitcase, and kept running.
A search of the suitcase revealed a large quantity of assorted drugs inside, including two kilograms of heroin, 500 grams of cocaine, 300 Oxycodone pills and three pounds of marijuana. The estimated street value of the drugs was $250,000. Also found inside the vehicle the suspect had been driving were two replica gas powered BB/pellet pistols.
Police searched the area using K-9 units and the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing Unit, but were unable to locate the suspect who fled. Police have since identified the man as Gilberto Oliveira-Mendes, and have issued a warrant for his arrest charging him with trafficking in heroin and cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He remains at large, and anyone who knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact police.
During their search of the area, police arrested Latesha Santos, 24, of Wareham, Massachusetts, and charged her with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact after it was determined that she had driven to the area in an effort to help Oliveira-Mendes escape.
