42 pounds of heroin taken off the streets of Boston

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – Two men are facing drug trafficking charges after authorities acted on a tip and seized more than 42 pounds from the men outside a residence in East Boston on Wednesday afternoon.

Miguel Antonio Rivera, 35, was arraigned on Thursday on charges of drug trafficking a class A substance in a school zone. The judge imposed a $200,000 cash bail and ordered that Rivera wear a GPS monitoring device, surrender his passport, and remain within 10 miles of Boston if he posts that amount.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations officials have placed an immigration detainer on Rivera, meaning that he will likely remain in custody even if he posts bail.

Santa Cruz, 59, of Norwalk, Conn., will be arraigned at a later date.

Police in Boston set up surveillance in the area of 119 Sumner Street in East Boston on Wednesday. Around 12:30 p.m., police spotted Cruz inside a black minivan with Maryland plates parked illegally on Sumner Street.

A short time later, Rivera reportedly approached the minivan which made an improper turn onto Havre Street. Rivera got into the passenger seat, and Cruz drove 50 feet before parking again.

The Boston Police Dept. notified Massachusetts State Police in the area, and two troopers approached the minivan to find Rivera at the rear door pulling a duffle bag out of a compartment. When he spotted the troopers, Rivera allegedly tried to stuff the 15 bricks of heroin back in before being physically separated from the vehicle.

Rivera will return to court on Nov. 31.

According to officials, the seizure takes about $5 million worth of heroin off of Boston's streets; however, they believe the drugs would have been sold and distributed beyond city limits.

State, local, and federal officials continue to investigate the illegal drug activity.

Cox Media Group