Police Bust Up Ashworth Street 'Heroin Mill'

arrested three people at a residence on Ashworth Street Thursday and charged them with operating a "heroin mill," among a litany of other crimes. 

Police received information about drug activity at 33 Ashworth St. and obtained a warrant to search the home. Once inside, members of the East Central Narcotics Task Force seized over ten ounces (roughly a quarter kilo) of heroin, heroin packaging, scales, cutting agents, strainers, a .38 caliber revolver, ammunition, $6,794 in cash and other drug paraphernalia. 

Residents Roberto Colon, Joann Vargas and Justin Herrera were arrested without incident at the scene. Police said both Colon and Herrera are convicted felons and have an "extensive criminal history" in Connecticut.

Both Colon, 27, and Herrera, 24, are facing charges of possession of heroin, possess of heroin with intent to sell, operating a drug factory, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of drug paraphernalia within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of drugs within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of drugs with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school and criminal possession of a firearm. 

Vargas, 47, is facing charges of possession of heroin, possess of heroin with intent to sell, operating a drug factory, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of drug paraphernalia within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of drugs within 1,500 feet of a school and possession of drugs with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school. 

All three are being held on $300,000 non-surety bonds. 

The East Central Narcotics Task Force, in cooperation with other municipal, and federal law enforcement agencies, is interested in stopping illegal narcotics sales and use in the Manchester, South Windsor, Vernon, and Glastonbury communities. Anyone with information pertaining to any illicit drug activity is asked to contact the East Central Narcotics Task Force at (860) 645-5548. All calls will remain confidential.  

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