Springfield police arrest Rafael Alvarez, 49. and Miguel Santana, 41, on heroin charges

Police said the suspect boasted business cards advertising their enterprise.

SPRINGFIELD – Two city men, charged by city police with dealing heroin Thursday afternoon in the Six Corners neighborhood, boasted business cards that they would hand out to their customers, police said.

Sgt. John M. Delaney said the two suspects, operating out of 511 Hancock St., Apt. 1-1, made deliveries to their customers who would call them on their cell phones.

Officers, conducting surveillance, learned that one of the suspects, Rafael Alvarez, who lives at that address, was poised to make a delivery. They saw Alvarez leave the apartment and get into his red Hyundai, Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet, said.

The officers interrupted the drug deal at Locust and Mill streets and placed Alvarez into custody. He was in possession of 22 bags of heroin tucked into a pouch of rice, Delaney said. They also confiscated business cards that listed the suspect’ cell phone number and street name, “Junio,”

The officers, armed with a search warrant, then went back to the apartment at 511 Hancock St. and arrested Miguel Santana, 41, of 94 Hickory St.

Both were charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, violation of a drug-free zone (Johnny Appleseed Park) and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.