Springfield police seize firearm, drugs and make arrests after surveillance

SPRINGFIELD — In a crackdown on open-air drug dealing, Springfield Police Department’s Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU) and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department seized a stolen firearm, heroin, cocaine, and cash, resulting in three arrests on Tuesday.

The operation commenced at about 2:20 p.m. on Aug. 6 following community complaints and numerous ShotSpotter activations in the Worthington and Federal Streets area.

During surveillance on the 900 block of Worthington Street, FIU detectives witnessed Geovonney Aguilar engaging in what appeared to be a drug transaction.

After Aguilar left the scene in a vehicle, detectives conducted a traffic stop on Elm Street, where driver Daisy Bocachica was found with crack-cocaine in her purse and was arrested.

Meanwhile, Aguilar was observed conducting more suspected drug deals.

When approached by detectives, Aguilar fled on foot but was quickly apprehended after a gun fell from his clothing.

The loaded firearm, with a 15-round capacity, was reported stolen from South Carolina.

Victor Tanon, another suspect, was arrested after he discarded a container holding 24 vials of cocaine.

In total, the FIU recovered an illegal firearm, $120, seven bags of heroin, 23 vials of crack-cocaine, and 23 vials of cocaine from Aguilar; two vials of crack-cocaine from Bocachica; and 24 vials of cocaine, two bags of heroin, and $55 from Tanon.

Aguilar, 19, faces several charges, including carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a large capacity firearm during the commission of a felony, and drug distribution.

Tanon, 59, and Bocachica, 51, also face multiple drug-related charges.