Police put a stop to an alleged heroin trafficking operation in Somerville last week. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Jim Clark

While conducting routine surveillance operations in East Somerville last week, members of the Somerville Police Department Drug Control Unit took notice of what appeared to be drug trafficking activity being conducted out of a U-Haul storage van, according to reports.

Police said that one of the occupants of the truck, Kristen Barnett, 23,was observed exiting the truck and conducted what appeared to be a drug transaction with a known dealer at a Broadway residence.

Rolling surveillance was maintained as the van was followed into Arlington, where police said an alleged drug transaction took place. The vehicle was then reportedly tracked back to Somerville, where the driver, Antonio Cardoso, 34, was observed running a red light at the Powderhouse rotary, police said.

The van was stopped by police and Barnett was reportedly observed attempting to discard a paper packet, which was retrieved by officers and later identified as containing what appeared to be heroin, according to police reports.

Kristen Barnett was placed under arrest and charged with possession of a class A drug. Both Cardoso and passenger Rachel Barnett were arrested and charged with being present where heroin is kept.