EARLY MORNING RAID RESULTS IN ONE ARREST, SEIZURE OF SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, LARGE QUANTITIES OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, CASH
Press Release from Av Harris, av.harris@bridgeportct.gov
(Jul. 14, 2016) — BRIDGEPORT, CT– Police Chief Armando “AJ” Perez today announced the results of a joint operation with the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force that has resulted in the arrest of one Bridgeport woman on charges of illegal sales of prescription drugs. The joint action also resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of firearms and prescription drugs ready for sale on the illegal black market. Acting on a tip, State Police – with the assistance of the Bridgeport Police Department’s SWAT team – arrested Miriam Cotto Almourtada (DOB: 08/13/66) in the early morning hours of July 13, 2016 after executing a search warrant at her home located at 28 Bell Street in Bridgeport. The search of the residence resulted in the seizure of over 1,000 pills of various types, 5 semi-automatic handguns, 2 revolvers, 3 long rifles, numerous rounds of ammunition, and $523.00 in cash. Almourtada was arrested and transported to State Police Troop G in Bridgeport, where she was charged with 2 counts of Sale of a Controlled Substance, Sale of Narcotics within 1,500 feet of a School, Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell, and Failure to Keep Prescriptions in Proper Containers.
“This joint action by the Connecticut State Police and our officers sends a strong message to anyone running illegal drug sales and trafficking guns in Bridgeport: we are coming for you,” said Bridgeport Police Chief AJ Perez. “We have had several successful operations with our state partners and we are keeping the pressure on the illicit drug and gun trade. We continue to get good cooperation from the community, which results in good information that can lead to getting rid of these bad actors and the harm they bring our neighborhoods. Through this action we have disrupted more sales of addictive prescription drugs, and taken away more guns that could be used to hurt people in Bridgeport. We clearly have more work to do, and we intend to do it.”
Ms. Almourtada was released shortly after her arrest on a $100,000 non-surety bond. She is scheduled to appear for arraignment at Bridgeport Superior Court on July 27, 2016. DCF was contacted and a referral was made for one child in her custody under the Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Program.
-30-