New Bedford man charged for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Dartmouth jail

A New Bedford man has been charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle in a large amount of cocaine into Bristol County Jail and House of Correction in Dartmouth.

Raymond Molina-Caraballo, 28, of New Bedford was a former inmate who had warrants out for his arrest.

Investigators from the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit began an investigation in Molina-Caraballo last month into the possibility that he was going to intentionally turn himself in so he could smuggle drugs back into the jail and “make a substantial profit doing so,” according to Paul Heroux, Bristol County sheriff.

On Monday, Aug. 25, investigators learned that Molina-Caraballo was at New Bedford District Court because of his warrants, and he was ordered held by the judge and set to be brought to the Dartmouth jail.

The Special Investigations Unit coordinated transportation and booking staff to make sure Molina-Caraballo would be thoroughly searched when he arrived at the Dartmouth jail. This search resulted in investigators seizing over 11 grams of suspected crack cocaine, as well as nearly 26 grams of suspected powdered cocaine, according to Heroux.

Molina-Caraballo was charged with trafficking a class b substance, possession with intent to distribute a class b substance, and delivering drugs or articles to a prisoner. He was arraigned at New Bedford District Court on Friday, Sept. 26 and is currently being held at the Bristol County Jail.

“People introducing contraband into the jail, including drugs, do not appreciate or care about the disruption and at times harm that contraband causes,” Heroux said. “Contraband is a challenge common to all correctional facilities in the country. It threatens the safety of staff and inmates.”