Narcotics, firearms seized in Berkshire Co. trafficking bust

BERKSHIRE COUNTY, Mass. (NEWS10) — Berkshire County and Massachusetts State law enforcement agencies initiated a county-wide narcotics trafficking bust on Friday, according to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. Substantial amounts of narcotics and multiple illegal firearms were seized during the operation.

The bust was reportedly the result of a multi-month-long investigation led by the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. It also marked one of the largest coordinated drug investigations in recent Berkshire history, the DA's Office said. Multiple local and state law enforcement agencies were involved, including:

• Berkshire District Attorney’s Office
• Berkshire State Police Detective Unit
• Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force
• Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office
• Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services
• Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations Team
• Pittsfield Police Department
• North Adams Police Department
• Adams Police Department
• Franklin/Hampshire County Law Enforcement Task Force
• Berkshire County Special Response Team
• Lowell PD
• Attorney General’s Office Massachusetts State Police
• Middlesex State Police Detective Unit

“Friday’s operation was the result of an extensive investigation into a criminal network attempting to establish itself in the Berkshires," said District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. "The strategic execution, including both the chosen day and short-period of multiple search warrant executions, resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of narcotics as well as the recovery of multiple high-capacity firearms."

Suspects arrested in connection with the investigation will be arraigned in both Central and Northern District Court on Monday. The Berkshire District Attorney's Office also plans to host a press conference about Friday's operation on Monday at 12 p.m.