Although the scale pictured displays 532 grams, State Police said they seized 450 grams of heroin in Brockton. Photo credit: Massachusetts State Police.
A routine traffic stop in Brockton yesterday led to the arrest of a 26-year-old man who allegedly had heroin and cash stashed in the car.
Julio Monteiro, 26, of Brockton, was arrested around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after a state trooper allegedly found 450 grams of heroin in his glove compartment, and $4,500 in his jacket pocket.
When police questioned him, Monteiro allegedly produced a Massachusetts driver’s license and a registration but could not identify the owner of the vehicle. After several more questions Monteiro became “noticeably afraid.”
The trooper frisked him, and found the cash in his pocket. Monteiro allegedly gave inconsistent statements about whether the money belonged to him. A check of his license status revealed it was suspended, so he was placed into custody for operating after license suspension.
A search of the car revealed evidence of drugs and obvious modifications to the vehicle. A State Police K-9 handler and dog trained to detect the odor of narcotics responded to the scene. The dog identified a hidden compartment in the vehicle where the heroin was stored.
Monteiro was charged with trafficking in heroin, operating with a suspended license, motor vehicle equipment violation, and failure to signal, police said.
