GREENFIELD — Two Springfield women who were stopped for a traffic violation were arrested on drug charges after Greenfield Police officers found 1,407 bags of heroin in their possession.
Laurie E. Bonano, 24, and Cyrene Blanchard, 31, both of Springfield, were arraigned in Greenfield District Court Thursday morning and remain in custody, in lieu of bail.
Both women were arrested on charges of trafficking in heroin (18 to 36 grams) and conspiracy to violate the drug law. Bonano, who was driving a blue Hyundai sedan, was also charged with a marked lanes violation. Blanchard, the passenger in the car, was also charged possession with intent to distribute a Class A substance and for failure to wear a seat belt.
The two were stopped on Pleasant Street on Wednesday night, after Greenfield Police officer Felix Ramos made a traffic stop. According to the court narratives, the nervous behavior of the women led Ramos and Greenfield Police officer Jay Butynski to believe there was probable cause to search them and the vehicle. A deputy sheriff from the Franklin County Sheriff’s office also came to the scene of the arrest. The searches resulted in the seizure of 1,407 individual bags of heroin.
Bail for was set for each woman at $10,000 cash or $100,000 surety. A court hearing for each is scheduled for March 16.