Sterling Heights police say this collection of cocaine was recovered during a Sept. 6 search of a semi-truck and trailer near a plaza in Sterling Heights.
By: Eric Czarnik | Sterling Heights Sentry | Published September 29, 2023
STERLING HEIGHTS — Four kilos of cocaine are in police custody after Sterling Heights officers reportedly searched a vehicle behind a shopping plaza.
According to Sterling Heights police Lt. Mario Bastianelli, police made the discovery at around 8:30 p.m. Sept. 6 when they saw two men who were occupying a semi-truck with a trailer while it was behind a shopping plaza in the 37000 block of Van Dyke Avenue, near 16 1/2 Mile Road. According to Macomb County prosecutors, the vehicle had been illegally parked.
When police talked to the driver, he reportedly said he wasn’t in the lot for any particular purpose besides planning to sleep in the vehicle that night. After police suspected that the two men were acting uneasy while being interviewed, police reportedly searched the truck and trailer with a K-9 unit and discovered cardboard boxes.
Those boxes stored containers that held 4 kilos, or about $320,000 worth, of cocaine, police said. Police then reportedly arrested the men.
In a statement, Bastianelli praised the officers for their vigilance.
“Due to the outstanding proactive police work by Sterling Heights patrol officers and K-9 unit, two major drug dealers were removed from the streets of Sterling Heights,” he said.
On Sept. 8, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office gave additional details about the suspects, who were identified as Cosme Urbina and Angel Castro, both 48 years old and from Illinois.
According to the MiCOURT online database, the men were arraigned Sept. 8 in 41-A District Court in Sterling Heights and were charged with delivery/manufacture of 1,000 or more grams of cocaine. Prosecutors say that charge is a felony that can carry a life sentence. Bond was set for both suspects at $500,000 cash/surety.
In a statement, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido praised the police for the arrest.
“A sharp-eyed response by dedicated and skilled Sterling Heights Police Officers led to the discovery of an alleged drug trafficking operation,” he said. “This is a stark reminder of the tireless efforts made by our police force to protect our county and residents.”
According to the court database, Castro’s next scheduled court date is an Oct. 30 probable cause conference, and Urbina’s next court date is a probable cause conference set for Dec. 1.
Castro’s listed attorney, Michael Bruss, could not be reached for comment by press time. Urbina’s listed attorney, David Kramer, declined to comment.
Anyone who has more information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Sterling Heights Police Department by calling (586) 446-2800.