Four arrested in drug sting
Four men were arrested Monday afternoon after police raided a house that was being used for the storing and selling of narcotics, officials said.
As a result of the operation, David Aguilar, 19, who police said was the ringleader of the group, was charged with felony possession of 7.43 pounds of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance (65 Xanax pills) and possession of a prohibited weapon (sawed off shotgun), said Brownsville police spokesman Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique.
Three others were charged during the investigation.
David Andres Baca, 19, was charged with possession of marijuana. Edder Alan Robles, 19, was charged possession of marijuana, evading arrest on a motor vehicle, reckless driving and evading arrest on foot. Hans Christian Mendoza, 19, was charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle and possession of marijuana, police said.
The raid took place while members of the narcotics investigation detail of the Special Investigations Unit were conducting surveillance on a residence at 130 Gloria St., Manrrique said.
"The investigation began in response to a Crime Stoppers tip, telling us that narcotics were being stored and sold out of this address," the spokesman said.
During the stakeout, officers saw Aguilar approach a Black GMC Envoy and conduct a narcotics transaction with two males inside the vehicle, police said.
"Officers in a marked unit went ahead and conducted a stop, but Robles and Mendoza fled the scene and could be seen disposing of a marijuana package," Manrrique said. "When cornered they left the vehicle and fled on foot only to be caught nearby."
When the investigators who were staking out the house moved in, they caught Aguilar and Baca as they were walking to a washing machine in the front of the house. Police said some of the drugs were being stored in the washing machine.
"As they were patting down Aguilar, the officers found some Xanax pills," Manrrique said. "Inside the house they found a shotgun with the barrel and the stock sawed off."
As a result of the operation, officers seized 7.43 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $13,000, as well as the 65 Xanax pills of undetermined value.
