By Susan Bush 12:00AM / Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Sheffield - Two Great Barrington residents are facing numerous drug charges following an Aug. 22 evening Sheffield motor vehicle stop and a subsequent investigation that involved a police search of their residence.
Jorge Alberto Cruz Santos, 25, and Edgar Cruz Santos, 22, both of 19 Railroad St. Great Barrington, were charged with one count each of cocaine trafficking, a drug violation within a drug-free school zone, and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Edgar Santos was charged with one count of driving without a driver's license.
Jorge Santos and Edgar Santos were held on $15,000 bail at the Great Barrington Police Department pending a scheduled Central Berkshire District Court Aug. 23 arraignment.
Members of the Sheffield, Great Barrington, Lenox, and Pittsfield police departments assisted with the investigation. State police officers assigned to work with the Office of the District Attorney also participated during the investigation.
Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless said that revenues provided by a state-funded Guns and Gangs grant are helping police conduct drug investigations.
"This is exactly the kind of organized drug distribution operation that we were looking to stop when we sought the Guns and Gangs funding from the legislature," Capeless said in a prepared statement. "I am proud of the fact that the money is being put to good use by members of the [Berkshire County Drug Task Force]. We expect there will be many more successful investigations to follow."