Stamford Police Announce $87K Narcotics Bust

Stamford Police seized $87,000 worth of drugs early Tuesday morning following a traffic stop, Lt. Tim Shaw announced Tuesday afternoon.

Officers working the midnight shift under the direction of newly-promoted Sgt. Chris Broems were conducting a traffic stop in the area of Seaside Ave. and Cove Rd. allegedly identified marijuana smoke coming from the vehicle, according to police.

Broems said the vehicle, initially stopped for operating without lights, was then searchd. Two jars of marijuana and a bag of heroin worth approximately $120 were allegedly found on the person of Eudy Danilo Taveras, 20, of Charles St., the passenger in the vehicle.

Further investigation led officers to Room 118 at the America's Best Value Inn at 1209 E. Main St., Broems said. After obtaining a warrant, officers entered the room and allegedly discovered the following items:

• over 200 grams of pure heroin
• over 4 ounces of marijuana
• $5,000 in cash

Shaw said the amount of heroin discovered was uncommon.

Evidence discovered in the room led to the arrest of the vehicle's operator, Ricardo Correa, 21, of Cove Rd., who was currently on parole at the time of his arrest, Broems said.

"This was really good police work," said Lt. Shaw. "This was proactive police work conducted under the direction of a young Stamford sergeant overseeing the midnight shift who was just promoted from the Narcotics Division and has been training our young officers."

Shaw said the department is communicating with federal authorities about prosecuting the case on a federal level based on the amount of drugs seized during the operation.

Correa and Taveras each face the same charges, which are possession of marijuana greater than 4 ounces, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, operating a drug factory and a conspiracy count on each of the above charges.

Taveras was held on a $10,000 bond. Correa was held on $150,000 because of his parole status, which was additionally remanded.