Cocaine trafficking suspects arrested in Holyoke apartment raid
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Three Holyoke residents were arrested on Tuesday following a months-long cocaine trafficking investigation.
Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan stated in a social media post that for the past several months, a multi-agency investigation had been taking place into the alleged cocaine distribution by 46-year-old Felix Vargas of Holyoke. Vargas had reportedly been distributing cocaine from his apartment on Hampden Street.
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The investigation was conducted in collaboration with the Holyoke Police Narcotics Unit, the Chicopee Police Narcotics Unit, and the FBI Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force. Last Friday, Chicopee detectives were granted a search warrant for Vargas' apartment and vehicle.
At approximately 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, members of the investigation team searched Vargas' home and vehicle, where he and multiple other suspects were arrested. Police said that as Vargas was being handcuffed, he threw several items over a railing. The items were located and found to be three bags of powder cocaine.
During the search, law enforcement recovered an illegally owned loaded firearm, a firearm magazine, approximately 26 bags of crack cocaine, ten bags of powder cocaine, a taser, and $725 in cash.
In addition to Vargas, 38-year-old Erica Weeks and 45-year-old Christy Suarez, both of Holyoke, were arrested inside the apartment.
Felix Vargas is charged with:
Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card
Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card
Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
Trafficking Cocaine 36-100 Grams
Possession of an Electric Stun Gun
Erica Weeks is charged with:
Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card
Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card
Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
Trafficking Cocaine 36-100 Grams
Possession of an Electric Stun Gun
Christy Suarez is charged with:
Arrest Warrant
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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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