NORWALK — Authorities arrested two men at a local liquor store Wednesday on charges related to illegal gambling and drug trafficking, Norwalk police said.
The Norwalk Police Special Services Division, with assistance from the Fire Department Fire Marshalls Division and the CT State Consumer Protection Division (Liquor Control), executed search and seizure warrants at Cocchia’s Liquor Store on 23 Ely Avenue, as well as a federal arrest warrant for one of the individuals involved.
During the operation, police apprehended Felix Galindo-Castillo, 48, also known as Cocchie, and identified as the founder of the Los Vagos Gang in Mexico.
Galindo-Castillo, who is facing a charge of illegal re-entry into the United States, had an active federal arrest warrant from New York and was found to be selling large quantities of cocaine from the store.
His bond was set at $55,000, with an additional $1 million for the fugitive from justice charge.
Another suspect, Jose Gerado Fuentes-Lima, 44, was also taken into custody.
Police discovered seven full-size illegal gambling machines inside the liquor store, which paid out cash through receipt tickets.
Approximately $4,932 in cash, wrapped in rubber bands with gambling receipts, was seized along with several bags of cocaine and two facsimile handguns.
Both men are scheduled for court appearances on Aug. 21.
The investigation is ongoing, marking the second set of arrests for narcotics and gambling violations at this location within a year.
The proceeds from the illegal gambling and cocaine sales are subject to state asset forfeiture.
