Two Worcester Men Arrested for Drug Trafficking

Friday, May 12, 2017
GoLocalWorcester News Team

Two Worcester men were arrested during an undercover investigation by Worcester police on drug trafficking charges. 

Jose Molina, 19, was charged with trafficking in heroin (18-36 grams) and Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Laws. Molina was the target of the investigation. 

Abi Palmero, 19, was placed under arrest and charged with Distribution of Class A Substance and Possession of Class A Substance with the Intent to Distribute. He was additionally charged with Trafficking in Heroin (18-36 grams) and Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Laws.

The Incident

On Wednesday, May 10, members of the Worcester Police Vice Squad were working on an undercover drug investigation in an effort to combat street level drug dealing. At approximately 8:30 a.m., members of the Vice Squad were conducted surveillance at an apartment located at 114 Piedmont Street. The resident and target has been identified as 18-year-old Jose Molina.

At approximately 9:00 a.m., undercover officers saw a black Honda Accord arrive at the address. The operator of this car was known to the officers as Abi Palmero, 19-years-old of 24 Hollywood Street, Worcester.

Palmero entered the Piedmont Street apartment for only 3 to 4 minutes, then exited the building and drove off in the Honda. Some of the undercover officers decided to follow  Palmero in their unmarked police car Palmero drove a short distance to a parking lot at 221 Chandler Street. At this location Palmero met with an unidentified man. The officers observed this man enter the passenger seat of the Honda. After a few seconds the man exited Palmero’s car and got back into his own car. The officers believed that they had just observed a street level drug deal take place.

Palmero drove off.

At this time two undercover officers approached the unknown man’s car while other officers continued to follow Palmero. Officers approached the man and saw that he was hunched over behind the steering wheel looking at and manipulating something in his hands. The man was ordered to drop what he had in his hands. Officers saw two small knotted baggies that contained heroin drop to the ground. At this time the male was identified. The officers did not arrest this man but elected to summons him into court with a charge of Possession of Class A Substance.

Once it was confirmed that the man possessed heroin the other officers following Palmero signaled the Honda to stop. Palmero was stopped on Lancaster Street by Grove Street.  He was removed from his car. Vice officers immediately recognized that Palmero was frantically attempting to chew and swallow something in his mouth. Palmero was ordered to spit out what he had in his mouth. Palmero spit out two knotted baggies of heroin.  

Based on their observations and the arrests that followed, officers went to the Piedmont Street apartment. Officers made contact with Molina and explained to him what their observations were today. After conversing with Molina, a search warrant was obtained for the apartment.

At approximately 5:00 p.m, the warrant was executed. The search produced 52 knotted half gram bags of heroin, $24,124 in cash, packaging materials and a scale along with paper work belonging to Molina.

The drugs and cash were seized as evidence and secured at police headquarters.