Safwan Madarati, who was at the center of a federal drug bust in Watertown, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to distribute drugs, maintaining a place for drug purposes, and conspiracy to launder and extort money and defraud the government, according to court documents. Madarati could face life in prison. A Watertown resident, Madarati was among 20 people who federal officials said were involved in an organized drug operation that spanned from Canada to California. Madarati and his associates are accused of conspiring to distribute 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, cocaine, and oxycodone."
Related: Gang Banging in Boston
Also see: Drug Bust a Downer For Doran
"71 Mass. communities to share $1.3m drug grant
Dozens of Massachusetts cities and towns are sharing a $1.3 million grant meant to fight drug abuse and overdoses, state health officials announced Friday. The grants from the Massachusetts Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative Program are funded through a federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. They will be used to implement policy, practice, systems, and environmental changes at the local level in an effort to prevent opioid abuse and reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths associated with overdoses. The announcement was made at the Impact Quincy Opioid Conference, which fights drug abuse in Quincy, Braintree, Randolph, Stoughton, and Weymouth."
Maybe there wouldn't be such a need for treatment if government agencies weren't moving the stuff.
"15 charged in Hartford-area drug sweep
Federal agents and Hartford-area police have arrested 15 people and seized drugs, guns, and money after a long-term undercover investigation. Authorities announced the arrests and seizures Friday. They said law enforcement officials fanned out across the Hartford area Thursday and served 15 arrest warrants and seized five firearms, 210 grams of crack cocaine, 200 bags of heroin, and about $1,400 in cash. The raids were conducted by police from Hartford, East Hartford, and West Hartford and officials with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the IRS; and the US Marshals Service."
