New Bedford Man Arrested on Gun Charge Following Suspected Drug Deal

NEW BEDFORD (1420 WBSM) — A New Bedford man has been arrested and an illegal firearm seized after police said they observed suspected drug activity in the city’s West End.

Police said that on November 23 at around 1 p.m., Organized Crime Intelligence Bureau detectives were conducting surveillance in the area of Summer Street and Austin Street, when they allegedly observed a drug transaction.

They said that while attempting to investigate the incident, a man later identified as Cameron Batista, 20, of New Bedford attempted to flee from police.

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Batista was eventually stopped and police said he was carrying a .380-caliber pistol with six rounds of hollow-point ammunition, and that the serial number had been removed from the firearm.

Police seized the firearm and $1590 in cash that was in Batista’s possession due to the nature of the charges against him.

Batista was arrested and charged with carrying a loaded firearm with the serial numbers obliterated, and conspiracy to violate the controlled substance laws.