Fishermen arrested after leaving New Bedford’s waterfront
By Bianca Buono
@BBuonoABC6
The opioid epidemic is causing trouble at sea. Several fishermen have been arrested this week for possessing heroin just moments after leaving New Bedford’s waterfront.
Fishing boats heading out to sea is not an uncommon sight in New Bedford.
"Last year we landed 140 million pounds of fish valued at $329 million so we’re the number one fishing port in the United States,” said Ed Anthes, Washburn, Port Director at the Port of New Bedford.
But it’s what’s happening inside some of these boats that may come as a surprise.
"Historically drug use has been in the fishing industry for decades now,” Anthes-Washburn said.
The opioid epidemic has taken over southern New England and its waters are no exception.
"On separate occasions, Sgt. Gomes and myself were approached by vessel owners who expressed concern that illegal drug use was taking place on their boats,” said Major Patrick Moran, Coastal Bureau Chief of the Massachusetts Environmental Police.
To ease fishermen’s concerns, this past Tuesday and Wednesday, Sergeant Jason Gomes of New Bedford Police and Major Patrick Moran of the Massachusetts Environmental Police teamed up. They randomly boarded and searched fishing boats that left from New Bedford’s waterfront.
"We boarded 11 vessels over the two days and I believe the total was 7 arrests,” said Sgt. Jason Gomes, Commanding Officer of the Port Security Unit of the New Bedford Police Department.
Gomes says they seized bags of heroin that were for personal-use of the fishermen.
"It’s a huge problem considering you’re 70-100 miles out to sea, at night, the crew works long hours, they’re fatigued,” said Gomes.
Despite these recent arrests, law enforcement officials want to make it clear that the majority of fishermen in New Bedford are law abiding citizens.
"I don’t think what we did yesterday is indicative of our entire fleet. Our fleet of fishermen are very very hard working people,” Gomes said.
Moran and Gomes say since their boarding, other ports have expressed interest in doing similar checks. They said they will plan another random search soon.
At the end of February, a man was found dead on a boat that left from New Bedford and officials are treating that investigation as an overdose.
© WLNE-TV 2016
