Boston Police seize kilograms of fentanyl in Southwest Corridor area

Boston Police seized more than two kilograms of fentanyl and arrested five suspects following an investigation spurred by community complaints of suspected drug activity.

The investigation was focused on what police call the “Southwest Corridor area,” so named for the park that runs from the South End to Jamaica Plain, where community members have complained of increased drug activity since the shutdown of the tent-city and open-air drug market centered around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.

“Through their efforts, investigators uncovered a Fentanyl distribution network operating within the community,” the Boston Police Department said in a statement on Saturday.

In addition to the fentanyl, police say the operation netted 32 rounds of ammunition as well as drug trafficking paraphernalia like scales and packaging materials, and $3,000 cash.

BPD units in Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester, Allston/Brighton and Jamaica Plain partnered with the Youth Violence Strike Force, Massachusetts State Police, MBTA Police, and Boston Housing Authority Police to carry out the operation.

The department says that officers executed several search warrants at locations including 176 Stratton St. in Dorchester, 127 Hazelton St. in Mattapan, and 1059 Tremont St. in Roxbury.

Those arrested are Ricky Wilson Soto-Arias, 36, of Dorchester; Doris Baez, 37, of Mattapan; Bryan Mejia, 31, of Mattapan; Jeil Hernandez, 44, of Boston; and Stephen Smith, 37, of Boston.

All except Smith were charged with trafficking Class A drugs.

Soto-Arias and Baez were also charged with unlawful possession of ammunition. Smith was arrested on warrants issued out of the Roxbury branch of Boston Municipal Court for breaking and entering in the nighttime and larceny over $250.

City Councilor Ed Flynn, who represents part of the South End, is thanking residents for “coming together, demanding action and partnering with law enforcement to put an end to open drug dealing.”

“Those saying we cannot arrest our way out of the situation are simply wrong,” Flynn told the Herald, “that needs to be part of the solution, including holding people responsible for their criminal behavior.”

“While we need to pursue a treatment-first approach to helping the victims of the drug and human trafficking trade in Boston,” he added, “there is no substitute for arresting those responsible for the open-air drug market and violence it has created in our neighborhoods.”

The open-air drug use, dealing and crime that’s spilled over into the South End has residents threatening to move out, the Herald has previously reported, and a Wu official indicating the city may change its strategy for the area.

Kellie Young, who leads the city’s coordinated response team, said in late October that her group will have “strong recommendations for the mayor” on public safety, recovery and judicial initiatives by January.

Boston Public Health Commissioner Bisola Ojikutu revealed in September that the city hands out more than 80,000 needles per month to drug users. She also highlighted how there’s been a 65% decrease in syringe-related 311 calls downtown over the past six to seven months, and numbers have also declined citywide.

State Sen. Nick Collins, who represents the South End, is echoing Flynn, saying officials and residents need to continue supporting law enforcement at all levels to “rid our communities of those who wish to poison our people and wreak havoc.”

“Thank you to the Boston Police and the Massachusetts State Police for their work to root out the drug and human traffickers in the South End,” Collins told the Herald. “Due to their hard work and professionalism, those leading a fentanyl distribution operation in and around the Southwest Corridor Park have been brought to justice.”

“Nobody should have to put up with this,” he added. “I am grateful to the good people of the South End and the areas impacted by the public health and safety crisis at Mass & Cass who have stepped up to partner with our police to ensure the perpetrators of these despicable crimes are taken off our streets.”