SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – More than 20,000 bags of heroin, AR-15 rifles, and additional drugs were seized from a Holyoke apartment last week.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni held a news conference this morning to discuss the findings of a massive narcotics investigation and seizure.

Anthony Gulluni stated that on October 7th at approximately 1:30 p.m., the Holyoke Police Department investigated an apartment at 119 Nonotuck Street in Holyoke after a two-month-long investigation. The investigation into drug trafficking intensified after a shootout at that address, which left a man dead and thirty shell casings were found on September 3rd.

Officers conducted a search warrant, and the police seized 20,165 bags of heroin weighing over 400 grams, over 1 kilogram of cocaine, two AR-15 rifles, three handguns, over 20 magazines, and $6,000 in cash. The street value of the drugs is approximately $250,000.

Photo courtesy of Hampden District Attorney’s Office

According to a news release from Hampden District Attorney’s Spokesperson Jim Leydon, the two arrested were identified as:

Hampden District Attorney’s Office: Francisco Marrero
Hampden District Attorney’s Office: Victor Colon

 Francisco Marrero, 22, of Holyoke on charges of:

  • Narcotics trafficking class A (heroin) over 200 grams
  • Narcotics trafficking class B (cocaine) over 200 grams
  • Multiple firearms charges

  Victor Colon,  23, of Holyoke on charges of:

  • trafficking class A (heroin) over 200 grams
  • narcotics trafficking class B (cocaine) over 200 grams
  • multiple firearms charges.

DA Gulluni stated, “First and foremost I want to thank the members of my office’s Hampden County Narcotics Task Force and S.A.F.E Task Force, along with the Holyoke Police Department, under the leadership of Chief David Pratt, for their hard work and excellent investigation in arresting these suspects.”

DA Gulluni then said ” Recently I stood with Mayor Joshua Garcia in front of Holyoke City Hall after a spike in homicides and violence in that city. My office, along with the Holyoke Police Department, and Massachusetts State Police, will continue our diligence and commitment to the safety of the city’s residents. We know there are a small number of people who seek to profit from addiction and violence; we will not tolerate it, and will stand with the great majority of those in Holyoke who seek to lead peaceful and prosperous lives.”

Colon and Marrero will be back in court on October 14th. The conference began at 11:00 a.m. at the Hampden District Attorney’s Office located at 1500 Main Street in Springfield.