May 12, 2025 – Springfield, Massachusetts – Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni was joined today by key federal and state law enforcement leaders to highlight a renewed and growing partnership between the Hampden District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts National Guard, focused on combating narcotics trafficking and organized drug activity across the region.

The partnership, originally established in 2015 and reaffirmed in 2018 under the leadership of Major General Gary Keefe, has provided vital resources, intelligence support, and personnel to assist with local narcotics investigations and enforcement.

“The collaboration between my office, the Massachusetts State Police, the National Guard and the New England HIDTA continues to be one of the most effective tools in our efforts to curtail drug trafficking in Hampden County,” said Gulluni.

As part of the Massachusetts National Guard Counterdrug Program, the Guard has assigned specialized personnel to support both the Hampden DA’s SAFE Narcotics Task Force and the State Police’s CINRET team. These individuals bring crucial skills in intelligence analysis, counterdrug systems, and linguistic translation.

In addition to staffing support, the Massachusetts National Guard has provided approximately $285,000 in state-of-the-art investigative equipment to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, its Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, and the Massachusetts State Police B-Troop Barracks. The tools will enhance officer safety and accelerate the identification and interdiction of narcotics.

Equipment includes:

• TruNarc Analyzer – Enables rapid drug identification in the field.
• MX908 Drug Analyzer – Detects trace amounts of dangerous substances with high sensitivity.
• Gray Key UFED – Mobile device extraction tool used in narcotics investigations.
• Handheld Backscatter Device – Provides x-ray imagery for identifying concealed drugs, weapons, or currency.

Major General Gary Keefe, Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard, emphasized the importance of supporting local agencies in tackling transnational and domestic drug threats.

Keefe said, “If you follow where fentanyl comes from, this is an international problem and it’s one that is attacking our nation. Beyond the aggressive nature that the district attorney and the team here has taken in eradicating this, we’re very proud to do what we can do to continue to support the mission of getting rid of this and making sure that Hampden County and the neighborhoods in Hampden County are safer places for people to live and raise families.”

Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Colonel Geoffrey Noble and New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Deputy Director David Kelley also spoke at the press conference, highlighting the success of collaborative strategies in protecting public safety.

Noble said, “The Massachusetts State Police shares the unwavering commitment of the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts National Guard, and the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area to address the significant danger posed by narcotics,” said Colonel Geoffrey Noble. “These tools will significantly enhance the safety of our communities as well as Troopers in the field by allowing them to quickly identify controlled substances and take appropriate action.”

Designated in 1999, the New England HIDTA provides funding resources, facilitates and enhances coordination of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in designated areas. This enables them to combine and leverage resources and capabilities to carry out activities, addressing the specific drug threats of those areas.

Kelley said, “We have a number of projects that we undertake, and one of which is the domestic highway enforcement program, the I-91 corridor that travels through this state and this county is patrolled by the Massachusetts State Police. I will tell you that their efforts on 91 to intercept and prevent drugs from entering these communities is nothing less than stellar, and I am very, very proud that we were able to play a role here today.”

In closing, Gulluni said, “The investments we’re highlighting today are more than just technology – they’re a testament to what’s possible when agencies work together toward a common goal: protecting our neighborhoods.”

This press conference underscores the commitment of all participating agencies to share expertise and resources in the fight against narcotics and organized crime in Hampden County and across Massachusetts.