Heroin Thrives Even After Big Hartford Bust

In early November, Hartford drug detectives working with a DEA task force, through a series of informants, had come across a sizable cache: $800,000 in cash.

The East Hartford storage locker they found the money in would lead them to the drugs. In an Adedlaide Street apartment in Hartford, investigators found more than 750 grams of heroin, much of which packaged in 17,500 baggies.

Investigators, in a federal criminal complaint against Amanda Gambardella, said the apartment was a large scale heroin mill. Inside, the drugs would be processed for street sales.

Despite this bust about five months ago, city police say the drug market is still thriving.

“It’s not going to end it. No single seizure is,” Deputy Chief Brian Foley said. “It’s a much bigger problem, but that’s why we have Hartford officers assigned to the task force to assist in any way we can.”

The money, on the other hand, may have some impact. Foley said it’s a considerable amount that could mean something for this network.

The U.S. Attorney’s office, which is prosecuting Gambardella’s case, said she was the only one in this network who has been charged, but the investigation is still going on.