Two residents of the Eden Park neighborhood were arrested on December 2 after a search conducted by the Cranston Police Department’s Special Investigations unit, the K-9 unit, and patrol officers revealed 58 grams of suspected Fentanyl, a key ingredient in heroin, along with scales, packaging materials, a 2008 Saturn vehicle, and $3,205 in cash.

The suspects, Andrea Carpentieri, 26, and Nelson Buitrago, 36, were found in a locked bedroom, with Carpentieri hiding in a closet, of their residence, 70 Glenwood Avenue (2nd floor). Both were arraigned and held as probation violators and denied bail pending a hearing before the Superior Court. Carpentieri was charged with possession of Fentanyl with intent to deliver and conspiracy to violate the controlled substance act. Buitrago was charged with possession of Fentanyl with intent to deliver, conspiracy to violate the controlled substance act, and violation of a no contact order, subsequent offense.

The residence is within a half mile of three schools, Eden Park, Daniel D. Waterman and the Valley Community School.

In a statement, Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of the Cranston Police Department, said, “The arrests of both suspects and the seizure of a significant quantity of Fentanyl eliminates an alleged distribution operation in our city, which if allowed to continue would likely result in deadly consequences for many. We, as a police department, will continue to make removing the Fentanyl and heroin from our neighborhoods a priority and will dedicate whatever resources are necessary to accomplish this goal.”

Fentanyl is 100 times more powerful than morphine. A hidden ingredient used to cut heroin and cocaine, users are often unaware of its presence, increasing the risk of overdose significantly. From June through August 2016, the last three months for which data is available, 73 people died of drug overdose in Rhode Island, 65 percent of those deaths involved Fentanyl.