Springfield, Mass. (WGGB) — Six individuals have been arrested by State Police on a number of drug charges following two raids in Springfield.

The Massachusetts State Police along with the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force raided two Springfield apartments yesterday at 101 Lowell St. in Springfield. The officers had two search warrants for units 310 and 712 that were obtained from Springfield District Court following an investigation into the distribution of cocaine and heroin from that location.

The raids which were each conducted just before 6 p.m. Thursday, resulted in six arrests and the seizure of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and cash.

As troopers entered the doorway to apartment 310 at 5:50 p.m., they observed 49 year-old, Raul Santiago of that address, inside the apartment shooting up heroin. He was taken into custody and charged with four counts of distribution of a Class A substance.

Also arrested inside the apartment was 40 year-old, Avis Quinone, of 51 Vandeen Ave. in West Springfield. Quinonne was arrested on warrants charging him with distribution of Class A and Class B substances.

At the same time, troopers entering unit 712 found the occupant trying to destroy evidence by flushing cocaine down the toilet. Police there arrested the following individuals: 36 year-old, Christian Andujar, of 81 Abbe Ave. in Springfield, charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct; 23 year-old, David Rodriguez of 101 Lowell St. apartment 712 in Springfield, charged with possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute; and 19 year-old, Alexander Carrasco Jr., of 198 Fiberloid St. in Springfield, charged with possession of a Class D substance with intent to distribute.

Troopers seized drug paraphernalia, a scale, numerous small bags of crack cocaine and marijuana, one larger bag of crack cocaine, and a small amount of cash.

Another defendant was located and taken into custody on Lowell Street in Springfield, 48 year-old, Jose Estella of 101 Lowell St., apartment 922 in Springfield, was charged with distribution of a Class A substance.

All six defendants were brought to the State Police Barracks in Springfield, where they were booked and held pending bail. They were expected to be arraigned in the district court today. The drugs were secured as evidence by narcotics investigators.

The warrants, which followed undercover purchases of cocaine and heroin from those locations and from various defendants around the apartment complex, were part of an ongoing effort initiated by the Massachusetts State Police Special Projects Team, which focuses on working with community members in Springfield’s North End to identify and act on criminal and public safety problems.

Shortly after 10:00 this morning, State Police learned that the toilet in apartment 712 used by one of the suspects to flush narcotics had just regurgitated approximately 80 additional rocks of crack cocaine and two more bags of marijuana. State Police went back to the apartment and recovered the additional drug evidence.

The following units participated in the investigation and yesterday evenings raids: Massachusetts State Police Special Projects Team; State Police Special Tactical Operations Team; State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section; State Police Gang Unit; State Police K-9 Section, and Hampden County Narcotics Task Force.