4 arrested in New Bedford drug bust, gun seized

NEW BEDFORD — Four men were arrested and a gun was seized following three separate drug transactions in the city’s West End on Wednesday, March 12.

Detectives from the Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau were patrolling the area targeting street-level narcotics activity when they observed three individuals engage in a drug transaction on Studley Street at 12:30 p.m.

The three men were identified as Kevin Haslam, 39, of Allen Street, Lino Vertentes, 43, of Division Street, and Calvin Rosa, 22, of Studley Street.

Detectives initiated a traffic stop where they found crack cocaine, leading to the arrests of Vertentes and Haslam.

Upon returning to Studley Street to conduct surveillance, detectives observed another drug transaction between Rosa and Ahkari Jones, 30, of Pawtucket.

A second traffic stop was initiated, and detectives located 56.4 grams of crack cocaine, resulting in Jones’ arrest on charges of trafficking 36 grams or more of cocaine and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Later that day, detectives observed Rosa enter another vehicle, allegedly to engage in another drug transaction, and took him into custody after stopping the vehicle.

Detectives then executed a search warrant at Rosa’s residence where they seized 30.7 grams of crack cocaine, a stolen Smith & Wesson handgun from South Carolina, nine rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, and a digital scale.

Rosa was charged with distributing a class B drug, conspiracy to violate drug laws, trafficking in 18 grams or more of cocaine, possession of a large-capacity firearm, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and receiving stolen property.