HOLYOKE — A Wednesday afternoon traffic stop on Forestdale Avenue led to the recovery of a significant amount of heroin and cocaine as well as the arrests of two city people on drug trafficking charges.

Holyoke Police narcotics detectives, as well as members of the FBI’s Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, stopped a blue 2006 BMW Model 530 around 4 p.m. when its license plate came back as belonging to another car, according to Holyoke Police Lt. James Albert.

Albert said that during officers’ interactions with the car’s driver, 46-year-old Jose Gonzalez of Holyoke, authorities “developed further information” that allegedly led to the discovery of 4,294 individual bags of heroin; 450 bags of cocaine or cocaine base; $3,923 in cash and several two-way radios “commonly used in street-level drug transactions and sales” inside the car.

Both Gonzalez and his passenger, 32-year-old Meighan Plourde of Holyoke, were placed under arrest, Albert said.

“Neither was willing to discuss the presence of the drugs with the detectives,” Albert said.

Gonzalez and Plourde were both charged with trafficking in heroin, 100 grams or more, possession of cocaine and possession to distribute cocaine. Gonzalez was additionally charged with operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, a number plate violation, and as a habitual traffic offender for operating a vehicle after a license has been revoked.

Both were held without bail overnight in Hampden County jails and were scheduled to be arraigned in Holyoke District Court on Thursday, Albert said.

Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.]]>