Brockton teen held without bail following carfentanil raid – News – The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

The synthetic opioid, typically used to tranquilize elephants, is considered to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl.

BROCKTON — A city teenager is facing charges of trafficking carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more power than fentanyl.

In total, police say they seized more than 510 grams (1.1 pounds) of drugs that could have been sold on the streets for well over $50,000.

The Mass. State Police Gang Unit and Brockton police detectives executed a search warrant on a red Acura sedan, which they had obtained as part of an investigation, on Friday evening, according to state police spokesman David Procopio. The warrant was for the vehicle and any occupants, including 18-year-old Etimilson Cabral, he said.

About 5:10 p.m. on Friday, troopers were conducting surveillance when they observed the target, Cabral, pull up to a home on Albion Street in Brockton, Procopio said.

“The male occupant of the car, confirmed to be Cabral, entered the home briefly, then came out and got back into the car and drove off,” Procopio said.

A trooper conducted a motor vehicle stop on the Acura at the intersection of Albion and North Montello streets and determined Cabral was driving with a revoked license. He was placed under arrest. The troopers then presented the warrant to search his person and the vehicle.

“Cabral tensed his body in a manner that prevented troopers from conducting a full search of his person,” Procopio said. “Troopers and officers brought him back to his home at Albion Street, and after explaining what was happening to the suspect’s father, Cabral was strip searched in private. As a result of the search, police found narcotics hidden on the suspect’s person.”

Police say between the vehicle and what was located on Cabral, they seized four knotted twists of suspected carfentanil with an approximate street value of $100; 16 knotted twists of fentanyl with a street value of $470; 11 knotted twists of suspected crack cocaine with a street value of $330; an electronic scale; and $340 in cash.

The Drug Enforcement Administration first issued a warning to police and the public about carfentanil in November 2016. They described the drug as a synthetic opioid that is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which itself is 50 times more potent than heroin.

Carfentanil is traditionally used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals, according to the DEA.

“Based on the results of that search, troopers applied for and obtained a search warrant for Cabral’s bedroom in the Albion Street house,” Procopio said.

The warrant was executed shortly before 9 p.m. on Friday.

“As a result of that warrant, troopers and detectives located a safe in the room,” Procopio said. “The safe was transported to the Brockton police station.”

Inside the safe, police say they located 423 grams of suspected fentanyl ($42,300 street value); 87 grams of suspected cocaine ($8,700 value); and $308 in cash.

“In the safe, troopers and detectives also found and seized five rounds of .25-caliber ammunition and six additional electronic scales,” Procopio said.

Cabral, of 57 Albion St., Brockton, was arrested and charged with trafficking carfentanil, trafficking in more than 10 grams of fentanyl, trafficking cocaine, illegal possession with intent to distribute a Class A substance, illegal possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance, illegal possession of ammunition and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

The drugs will be analyzed by the Mass. State Police Crime Laboratory, which has previously found carfentanil in samples submitted by Brockton police.

Cabral was previously known to Brockton police. He was arrested in December and charged with illegal possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug and underage alcohol possession. He was also arrested the month prior on motor vehicle offenses, including driving with a revoked or suspended license, refusing to identity himself and a window-tint violation.

Cabral is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Brockton District Court on the new charges.