New Bedford Police Arrest Six, Recover 90 Grams of Cocaine and Four Guns

NEW BEDFORD—New Bedford police took four guns and more than 90 grams of cocaine off the streets Tuesday, and made six arrests in three separate cases.

A loaded semi-automatic .380 caliber handgun was seized and two arrests were made as part of an investigation into cocaine distribution out of 358 North Front St. Apt. 1 north.

Mark A. Salazar, 52, of 358 North Front St. Apt. 1 North, was charged with improper storage of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, felony possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Salazar is well-known to police. He has 86 adult arraignments, 53 convictions, has defaulted court 50 times and is currently out on bail for heroin possession.

Shayna Castello, 28, of 358 North Front St. Apt. 1 North, was charged with possession of a firearm without a license, unlawful possession of ammunition, improper storage of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and a warrant arrest.

Police executed a warrant at about 5:58 p.m. at the address. Police located a silver semi-automatic 380 caliber gun with eight rounds of ammunition in the magazine and a quantity of cocaine.

Later that evening, a search warrant was executed at 34 Washburn St. Apt. 2 as part of an investigation into a cocaine distribution service being operated out of that address.

Alex S. Marabuto, 31, of 34 Washburn St. Apt. 2, was charged with trafficking in cocaine over 36 grams, felony possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possessing a firearm without a license, improper storage of a firearm and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Sophia Janeiro, 29, of 34 Washburn St. Apt. 2, was charged with trafficking in cocaine over 36 grams, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of a firearm without a license, unlawful possession of ammunition, felony possession of a firearm and improper storage of a firearm.

Rafael A. Mota-Martinez Jr., 25, of 318 Court St. Apt. 2, was charged with trafficking in cocaine over 28 grams, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of a firearm without a license, felony possession of a firearm and improper storage of a firearm. He was convicted in March 2014 for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

A search of the apartment yielded 90 grams of cocaine, packaging materials, a digital scale, $1,161 in currency and a 45 caliber Highpoint pistol with nine rounds of 45 caliber ammunition.

The search warrant was executed at about 9:15 p.m.

A search warrant was also executed Tuesday at a home at 31 Nye St. Apt. 1 after an investigation into illegal possession of a firearm.

Wilrobert Lugo, 28, of 31 Nye St. Apt. 1, the target of the search, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm without a license, two counts of improper storage of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and receiving stolen property over $250.

Police seized two firearms, both 9 mm firearms. One firearm had a magazine containing 12 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, the other had a magazine containing 10 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. A third magazine was found with 11 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. An investigation showed that one of the firearms was stolen in 2015 in South Carolina.

--New Bedford Police