Pubdate: Sat, 03 Nov 2001
Source: The Herald-Sun (NC)
Copyright: 2001 The Herald-Sun
Contact:  http://www.herald-sun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1428

2 ARRESTED IN RECORD SEIZURE OF ECSTASY

DURHAM -- Durham police seized 522 Ecstasy pills and arrested two men Wednesday in the department's largest Ecstasy bust, police said.

Eric Mercado, 23, of 1024-D Sherwood Drive, was charged with trafficking in Ecstasy, sale and delivery of Ecstasy, and possession of Ecstasy with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver.

Mariano Alomar Hiraldo, 28, of 200 Seven Oaks Road, Apt. 8-F, was charged with felony conspiracy.

Investigators from the Special Operations Division arrested the suspects at The Village Shopping Center at the intersection of Holloway Street and Miami Boulevard.

The largest previous Ecstasy arrest was last year when police confiscated 460 pills and arrested 22-year-old Michael Manares on Ecstasy trafficking charges.

Under North Carolina law, possession of 100 or more Ecstasy pills is a drug trafficking offense. Ecstasy is a synthetic psychedelic amphetamine.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth