Two face drug charges when police seize heroin in Groton

Groton — Police arrested a Norwich woman and Hartford man on drug charges Monday after officers said they found 133 bags of heroin and other drugs and seized more than $2,000.

Town police were working with members of the Department of Adult Probation and the Department of Correction’s Parole Division on surveillance of high-crime areas. As part of the initiative, officers said they observed suspicious activity in a vehicle, occupied by Sasha Ann Santiago, 28, of 78 Sandy Lane, Norwich, and Alejandro Guerra, 30, of Hartford in the parking lot of a local business, according to a news release issued Tuesday evening. Officers said the pair was known to be associated with drug sales.

When the officers approached the vehicle and investigated, they said they found 26 grams of crack cocaine, 133 bags of heroin, 60 benzodiazepine pills, nine opiate pills, 2 grams of marijuana and 1 gram of cocaine. They also seized $2,542 in cash, according to the release.

Santiago and Guerra each were charged with four counts of possession of narcotics, two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, one count of operating a drug factory and one count of possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana. Both were held on $50,000 bond and were scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

Anyone who notices any illegal drug activity is asked to contact the town police Detective Division at (860) 441-6712.