NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — Within 48 hours, New Bedford detectives cracked down on drug activity and arrested 15 people in the County Street bar district following complaints from business owners.

Police said 55 arrests have been made in the area since the beginning of the year.

On Aug. 28, detectives witnessed Edmilson Gomes, 28, selling crack cocaine to someone in a deal allegedly brokered by Carlos Tavares, 41. All three were arrested. It was Gomes’ third drug-related arrest this year, police added.

Later that day, Darren Andrade, 36, was arrested after he was seen selling crack cocaine near Nelson and Crapo streets, according to police. Andrade, along with two of his buyers, were taken into custody. Police said Andrade has an “extensive criminal history,” including convictions of firearms possession and armed robbery.

The following day, Tavares was arrested again, this time in a car with Jason Cook, 32, after both were found with crack cocaine and fentanyl, police said.

According to police, Tavares was on probation for larceny at the time of the arrests.

Yariluz Segarra-Mendez, 41, was arrested on an outstanding warrant outside 116 County St. Hours later, police said she and one of Andrade’s buyers were found with crack cocaine and fentanyl.

Police said they have arrested Segarra-Mendez a dozen times for active warrants.

“An individual who defaults on warrants can be arrested repeatedly for the same offense, using up valuable resources that can be directed towards investigating new crimes,” Chief Paul Oliveira said. “It’s a tremendous drain on our system.”

Police said they arrested Brittany Todman, 33, and Guilherme Jalo, 22, for an alleged crack cocaine transaction. Detectives also arrested four more individuals who had active warrants.

“It’s noteworthy that we continue to arrest the same people for the same offenses within very short periods,” Oliveira added. “This is emblematic of the revolving door that continues to spin.”

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