Members of the Oak Bluffs Police Department and the Martha’s Vineyard Drug Task Force arrested two men and seized illegal prescription narcotics worth an estimated $9,000 on Friday, December 5, police said in a news release.
Following what was described as a coordinated investigation, police arrested Joel C. Rebello, 24, of Oak Bluffs, and Donald S. Berube, 24, of Tewksbury following a vehicle stop on Monroe Avenue in Oak Bluffs. A search of the vehicle turned up 150 oxycodone pills, according to police.
“The pills were found concealed inside an Orbit plastic gum container that was tucked under the carpet near the back of the driver’s seat,” Oak Bluffs police detective Jeffrey LaBell said in a news release. “Mr. Rebello, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was observed by an officer reaching toward the location where the pills were found just prior to the motor vehicle stop being initiated. Neither Mr. Rebello or Mr. Berube have a prescription for oxycodone.”
Police seized $470 in cash from Mr. Berube, according to the news release.
Police said Mr. Rebello has been the target of a two year drug task force investigation into the illegal distribution and use of prescription narcotics on Martha’s Vineyard.
At their arraignment in Edgartown District Court Monday, both Mr. Rebello and Mr. Berube were charged with opium trafficking, and conspiracy to violate drug laws. The court entered not guilty pleas on all the charges, and ordered them back to court on December 29 for a pre-trial hearing. Both men were released after posting $500 bail.