20 arrested in Holyoke gang sweep

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Twenty people have been arrested and more than 3,300 bags of heroin have been seized as several law enforcement agencies descended on Holyoke Thursday.

According to a news release sent to 22News by the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, the arrests come following an investigation into heroin dealing activity by members of the La Familia gang and their associates.

Specific information about the 20 people arrested was not immediately available, though the DA’s office says that the most recent arrests are related to distribution of heroin and charges against six people already in custody. “The charges today involve multiple distributions of hundreds of bags of heroin, with some individuals being charged with selling heroin in a Drug Free School Zone or as subsequent offenders under the Commonwealth’s narcotics laws,” the release says. All were arraigned Thursday in Holyoke District Court.

Four people wanted in connection with the investigation are currently at-large.

The arrests were made by members of the FBI Western Mass. Gang Task Force, the DA’s Office Narcotics Task Force, Holyoke Police, State Police Detectives Unit, U.S. Marshals Office, DEA Springfield, and the ATF Springfield.