PALMER, Mass. (WWLP) – In a recent court case, Joel Enrique Armenta Castro of Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico was not convicted for drug trafficking following his arrest in late August.

He had been arrested with Gerado Madrigal Quintero of Culiacan, Mexico. Quintero was accused of completing a drug transaction at the Ludlow Service Plaza.

They were charged with trafficking 200 grams or more of cocaine and conspiracy to violate the drug law for allegedly bringing 15 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico in a tractor-trailer. The street value of what was seized during the arrest was over $500,000. 

The arrests were made after information was provided through an FBI investigation. Massachusetts State Police verified the two Mexican suppliers were heading to Massachusetts to deliver the truckload of cocaine.

Castro was taken into custody after police say they witnessed an exchange between the two men at the Ludlow Service Plaza. Shortly after, police stopped the tractor-trailer truck on I-91 South in Longmeadow, and Quintero was taken into custody. 

As of October 28, a decision was made by Palmer District Court that Castro is no longer to be held after his 120 days are up on December 30. According to a criminal docket provided by the Palmer District Court, Castro received a disposition of Nolle Prosequi on all counts (abandonment of prosecution without conviction) and was decriminalized (removal of criminal penalties for drug violations). No indication from Palmer District Court documentation as to why Castro was given these dispositions.

But, an initial status conference is to be held on November 16 with Boston Court before Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell for both defendants, who have agreed to voluntary detention. Quintero is also scheduled to appear in Palmer District Court on January 5.

22News will continue to follow this story.