Mayor Sarno seeks closure of Springfield market tied to drug trafficking
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno has called for a local business to shut down after police said it was at the center of a drug ring in the city.
DA Gulluni announces results of three major narcotics investigations in Springfield
Earlier this week, authorities announced dozens of arrests and the takedown of three drug rings throughout Springfield. The DA's Hampden County Narcotics Task Force and Strategic Action & Focused Enforcement Task Force began investigating drug trafficking activity around Springfield's Garcia Market and Angel's Used Appliances in October 2022. Throughout the investigation period, over 80 firearm-related calls were reported to police.
On May 15, 2025, investigators executed searches and arrests at these locations, which served as fronts for an extensive trafficking network. Law enforcement seized 12,138 grams of cocaine, 530 grams of fentanyl, and 15 firearms. As a result of this operation, 19 suspects were arrested and face charges including drug trafficking, firearm possession, child endangerment, and property theft.
Now, Mayor Sarno wants to shut down Garcia's Market on Orange Street.
Mayor Sarno states, 'I spoke with both District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and Police Superintendent Larry Akers earlier today to commend them and our State Police law enforcement officials for their continued brave and dedicated efforts to shut down this major drug and gun operation. As you know, I have no patience nor tolerance with these poison dealing, gun-toting violent offenders and their business fronts are not welcomed here in Springfield. In turn, I have requested City Solicitor Stephen Buoniconti and Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris to pursue a seize and desist order to move to shut down this 'den of iniquity' in the name of public health and safety for the good of our neighborhood residents and businesses of the area and beyond.'
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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