Stamford police seize $5K worth of heroin

STAMFORD — Police say they seized $5,000 worth of heroin when they intercepted a drug delivery on the city’s West Side.

Capt. Richard Conklin said officers in the Narcotics and Organized Crime squad were told that a man named “Kota” would be bringing a large amount of heroin to Perry Street on Thursday.

They also heard that “Kota” had been moving large amounts of narcotics in Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport and he would be driving a rented white SUV.

Police set up surveillance of the neighborhood and spotted a man matching the description driving a Toyota RAV4, Conklin said.

The man, identified as Dakota Whittington, 32, of Bridgeport, and a passenger, Edward Giusti, 26, of New Haven, were pulled out of the SUV. Conklin said officers found inside the center console $1,730 in cash along with 201 yellow glassine folds of heroin and another 40 white folds of heroin that were stamped “Jack Daniels,” “Trick or Treat” and “Boo.”

“This was a large quantity of heroin, 241 bags,” Conklin said, adding that the folds usually sold for $20 on the street. “It illustrated the demand for this drug regionally.”

Giusti and Whittington were each charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell, sale of certain illegal drugs, conspiracy to commit the crime of possession of narcotics and possession of a controlled substance. They were released after each posting $50,000 court appearance bonds.