Two Arrested in New Bedford Fentanyl Bust

NEW BEDFORD — Two New Bedford residents have been arrested for trafficking over 200 grams of fentanyl — and one man allegedly threw a package of drugs over a wall — in a bust yesterday.

New Bedford police said that detectives investigating a city fentanyl distribution service searched a Division Street apartment on Tuesday.

They arrested 37-year-old New Bedford woman Frances Justiniano and 22-year-old Christopher Lara, who was later identified by state police as Isaiac Sanchez-Lara, following the search.

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Detectives allegedly found 36 plastic bags of fentanyl weighing more than 163 grams and plastic bags with nearly 39 grams of cocaine in the apartment.

They also allegedly found $1,010 thought to be profits from drug dealing along with cell phones, packaging materials, cutting agent, and a blender with drug residue.

Police said Sanchez-Lara had also thrown a package containing nearly 72 grams of fentanyl over a wall on County Street just prior to the search.

After finding several different identification documents for Sanchez-Lara, police took him to a local state police station to be fingerprinted, where they were able to determine his true identity.

Both Justiniano and Sanchez-Lara have been charged with trafficking 200 or more grams of fentanyl, 36 grams or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Sanchez-Lara was also charged with providing false identification.