New Bedford Police Charge Providence Man for Drug Trafficking

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A Providence man has been sentenced to state prison after he was arrested in New Bedford and charged with trafficking drugs.

Yamil Velazquez-Acevedo, 27, was sentenced to five years in state prison after being convicted by a jury on charges of trafficking fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

The charges date back to January 5, 2021, when New Bedford narcotics detectives observed Velazquez-Acevedo's car picking up and dropping off a male pedestrian in the same location after he drove around the block.

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Police proceeded to stop the car, noticing that Velazquez-Acevedo was operating the vehicle. Authorities searched the car, where they allegedly discovered $960 in cash scattered in the front seat.

Police also found a knotted corner bag with pills in one cup holder and a Diet Coke can, which was allegedly being used and manipulated to hide drugs in the other cup holder.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered the soda can contained four bags of cocaine weighing 3.64 grams and 31 bags of fentanyl weighing 37 grams. The pills turned out to be pressed fentanyl pills, according to police.