Cape Cod Father-Son Cocaine Dealers Arrested: Police

BARNSTABLE, MA — A Cape Cod father and son who ran a "large-scale" cocaine operation were arrested this week in an undercover sting, according to Barnstable police. Vincent Gomes Sr., 39, and Vincent Gomes Jr., 21, were found with cocaine, oxycodone, guns and thousands in cash, police said. The duo, who are originally from Cape Cod, had been residing in New Bedford and regularly traveling to the Cape to distribute drugs, police added.

Police said the arrests were the result of a months-long investigation involving undercover drug purchases and electronic surveillance. The pair were arrested Tuesday after officers followed their vehicle from their New Bedford residence to the Barnstable conservation parking lot on Old Stage Road.

"A subsequent search resulted in the seizure of approximately 25 grams of cocaine from Gomes Jr.," Barnstable police said in a statement. "Another 25 grams of cocaine that had been hidden in the woods adjacent to the parking area was located by a BPD K-9"

The father and son were charged with cocaine trafficking and conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substances Act. Gomes Sr. was also charged with possession of oxycodone. Gomes Sr. has previously been convicted of cocaine distribution charges.

"Both suspects are originally from the Cape but have been residing off Cape in New Bedford," police said. "During the investigation, Detectives learned that the suspects were traveling to the Cape on a daily basis to distribute large quantities of cocaine to numerous Cape Cod area users and dealers. The suspects would generally remain on Cape for several hours each day before returning to New Bedford."

Police said authorities found the following items at their pair's New Bedford apartment on Reynolds Street:

• $25,000 worth of drugs
• Loaded 9mm pistol and .22-caliber revolver
• 90 grams of cocaine
• "Numerous" oxycodone pills
• Scales, bags and diluting agents

Gomes Sr. will face additional drug and gun charges out of Bristol County, police said. At the time of the arrests, Gomes Jr. was out of bail after he was arrested in August on a cocaine trafficking charge.

Gomes Jr. was held on $10,000 bail; Gomes Sr. posted $5,000 bail, according to police.

Photo: Mugshots for Vincent Gomes Sr. (left) and Vincent Gomes Jr., accused of running a Cape Cod cocaine dealing operation. (Credit: Barnstable Police Department)