State Police arrest New Bedford man for trafficking in fentanyl, find drugs near children’s bed

NEW BEDFORD — Police investigating fentanyl sales raided a home, arrested a 30-year-old suspect and found more than 85 grams of the drug, some it next to a mattress where young children were sleeping.

Oscar Ramos-Torres, 30, was charged with trafficking in fentanyl over 80 grams, possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of ammunition. At the time of his arrest, he was out on probation for a previous arrest for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, state police said.

As a result of the investigation, police received a search warrant for Ramos-Torres’ McGuirk Street apartment and members of the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit and New Bedford Police Gang Unit went to his home on Tuesday. When Ramos-Torres did not answer a knock immediately, officers forced open the door, police said.

They found Ramos-Torres, a woman and two young children in a bedroom. About 8.7 grams of powder that tested positive for fentanyl was discovered about 2 feet from the mattress where the children were sleeping.

Because the synthetic opioid is so powerful it can cause harm by coming in contact with a person’s skin, police contacted the Department of Children and Families to report finding the fentanyl near the children, police said.

In a further search of the house, police found a workbench where Ramos-Torres is accused of preparing fentanyl for sale. There they found a container holding about 77 grams of a powder that tested positive for fentanyl and a variety of paraphernalia used to package the drug for sale. Police also discovered 26 Suboxone strips and $6,245 in cash. They also found 10 rounds of ammunition in the basement of the home, police said.

The Bristol County State Police Detective Unit and a deputy from the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the raid, police said.