Crime & Safety
West Hartford Man Charged In 'Significant' Drug Bust: WHPD
The 35-year-old was subject to a months-long probe of his illegal narcotics distribution operation out of his West Hartford home.
WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local police say they have charged a West Hartford man who is part of a major illegal narcotics distribution network in town, seizing a "significant" amount of drugs in the process.
According to the West Hartford Police Department Friday afternoon, Matthew Cruz, 35, of West Hartford was charged with: four counts of possessoin of narcotics; possession with intent to sell more than an ounce of heroin; three counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell; use of drug paraphernalia; operation of a drug factory; six counts of criminal possession of a firearm; illegal alteration of a firearm (serial number); and risk of injury to a minor.
Police said Cruz was unable to post his $1.5 million bond and was scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court Friday, March 28.
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Police said the charges, which were issued on Thursday, March 27, came after an investigation that started in the "early months" of 2025.
Police said the WHPD Community Support Unit and the FBI Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force initiated an illicit drug investigation of Cruz.
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"During the course of the investigation, law enforcement personnel determined that this resident was distributing illegal narcotics (fentanyl and "crack" cocaine) from his residence," wrote police in a statement Friday.
As a result, authorities executed a search-and-seizure warrant at the suspect's residence.
That, police said, resulted in the discovery of a "significant amount of narcotics," items used to process and package narcotics, and six guns.
According to the WHPD, evidence located within the residence included:
• 14,371 wax sleeves of fentanyl.
• 385.10 grams of loose fentanyl.
• 209.6 grams of “crack” cocaine.
• 23.2 grams of powder cocaine.
• 60.6 grams of loose heroin.
• Approximately 120,000 empty/unused wax fentanyl sleeves.
• A large sum of US. currency.
Anyone with information regarding this incident, or other similar incidents, is asked to contact the West Hartford Police Department through the WHPD Tip Line/email at 860-570-8969 / whpdtips@westhartfordct.gov.
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