UPDATED: Milford Couple Held on $150-200,000 Bail Following Drug Raid

UPDATED: In an arraignment hearing, a Milford couple charged with trafficking in heroin, and possession to distribute other drugs, including cocaine, were ordered held on cash bails of $150,000 to $200,000.

Nilsa Vega, 37, of 9 Purchase St., is charged with trafficking in heroin, and several other drug offenses. She was orderd held on $200,000 cash bail, or $2 million surety, by District Judge Robert Calagione Friday.

Radames A. Vargas, 50, who lives with Vega, his girlfriend, is charged with trafficking in heroin and several other drug offenses. He was ordered held on $150,000 cash bail, or $1.5 million surety.

Through a Spanish language interpreter, both Vega and Vargas told Judge Calagione they intend to hire private attorneys to represent them. In the arraignment at Milford District Court, pleas of not guilty were entered on their behalf.

They are next scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 16.

According to Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Karlin, police entered the house occupied by Vega and Vargas Thursday night, and seized 22 grams of heroin and 8.8 grams of cocaine.

In statements to police inside the house Thursday, Vega accepted responsibility for the drugs found in the home, Karlin said, and at one point, pulled $2,100 from her bra and handed it to police.

Both Vega and Vargas are charged with the same offenses: trafficking in heroin, possession to distribute a Class A drug, possession to distribute a Class B substance, possession to distribute a Class D drug, conspiracy to violate drug laws, drug offense near a school and two counts of child endangerment.

The house is located near as well as Stacy Middle School.

The couple has two children, ages 16 and 14. The 14-year-old girl is now in the custody of child protective services, and is in a foster home, according to court documents. The status of the 16-year-old was not clear.

The search began about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, under a search warrant, according to a document filed by Milford Police Detective Jason Ball.

Milford Police detectives were assisted in the search by a regional SWAT team, and by a K-9 and officer from Plymouth County.

Vargas and Vega were found in their bedroom, according to Ball's statement. In this room, police seized .2 grams of cocaine and 2.3 grams of marijuana in a glass jar. Inside Vargas's wallet, a detective found $800 in cash, and an EBT card for another man.

A police detective also found $1,332 in cash on the 16-year-old, according to Ball's statement.

At 9:30 p.m., a female police sergeant arrived. At this point, Vega pulled $2,100 from her bra, and a glassine bag from a body cavity that contained a bag with 22.2 grams of heroin, five bags containing 1.5 grams each of a leafy green substance consistent with marijuana and a bag with 8.8 grams of cocaine, according to the police statement.

The police dog searched the house and scratched at a nightstand in a bedroom, where police found 17.3 grams of a leafy green substance consistent with marijuana, police reported.

Police also seized ice tea mix, being "used as a cutting agent," and several EBT and Social Security cards, according to Ball's report.

Original Post:

Milford Police arrested three people on drug charges following a search of a home Thursday night on Purchase Street.

The search, at 9 Purchase St., included members of a regional SWAT team, and began shortly before 9 p.m. The investigation continued overnight. According to police, the following were arrested:

Nilsa Vega, 37, also known as "Big Mama", who is charged with: trafficking in heroin; possession to distribute a Class A drug, subsequent offense; possession to distribute a Class B substance; posession to distribute a Class D drug; conspiracy to violate drug laws; drug violation near a school zone and two counts of child endangerment.

Radames A. Vargas, 50, who is charged with: trafficking in heroin, possession to distribute a Class A drug, possession to distribute a Class B substance; possession of a Class B substance; possession to distribute a Class D drug; conspiracy to violate drug laws; drug violation near a school zone; and two counts of child endangerment.

Franscico Cora, 44, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for drug charges.

The 9 Purchase St. property is the same site of a reported home invasion robbery in November 2011. In that case, two men were arrested after they reportedly broke into the first-floor apartment, and demanded drugs.

Responding to an email question, Milford Police confirmed Friday the individuals arrested Thursday are the same family that reported the invasion robbery.

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