MORRISTOWN (WATE) - Local and federal authorities seized around $15,000 worth of cocaine, along with marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Morristown Tuesday after a weeks-long investigation.
Abel Tomas-Silva, 31, was arrested during the search at 2016 Faulkner Road. He's charged with possession of cocaine for sale, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
Officers also made a rare find at the scene, a metal press used for compressing powder cocaine into hard kilos.
"This is only the second one we have found as long as I have been in the Narcotics Division," said Morristown police Lt. Chris Blair.
Agents believe Tomas-Silva entered the U.S. illegally. He's being held in the Hamblen County Jail on the narcotics charges, and is being detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
The search followed several weeks of investigation by Morristown police, ICE, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Abel Tomas-Silva (source: Hamblen County Sheriff's Office)
Authorities seized cocaine, cash and a metal press. (source: Hamblen County Sheriff's Office)
