Crime & Safety

Stamford Cops Bust 3 in Arizona Marijuana Delivery Sting

Stamford police conducting a narcotics investigation arrested three men Wednesday who they say were attempting to receive eight pounds of marijuana via a controlled delivery at an industrial business complex in the city. 

According to Capt. Richard Conklin, police were alerted by a package delivery driver to a man, identified by police as David Kumar Rhamdas, 27, of 113 West Avenue, who would often exit a building along Progress Drive and meet the driver on the street, inquiring about a package he was waiting to be delivered. Conklin said Rhamdas had been receiving numerous packages recently, and the delivery man had suspicions the packages were drugs. 

Conklin said Rhamdas has charges pending against him from a 2009 investigation where he is accused of receiving deliveries of large amounts of marijuana. 

Police brought K-9 units to search the packages, which indicated the contained drugs. A search warrant was gained and police discovered eight pounds of marijuana in the package, according to Conklin.

At approximately 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Narcotics & Organized Crime units conducted a sting operation and delivered the package to Rhamdas, who signed for the package, Conklin said. As officers moved in, Rhamdas spotted the officers and attempted to flee the scene, dropping the drugs, said Conklin. 

Police were able to apprehend Rhamdas, and observant officers spotted a car attempting to slowly drive away from the scene. Conklin said officers stopped the car and it was discovered the car belonged to Rhamdas, who later told police it belonged to his wife. 

Police identified the occupants of the vehicle as Cecear Cueto, 23, of 686 Sanuaro Drive in Gilbert, Az., the town from which the package for which Rhamdas signed originated, and Ismael Adrian Ramirez, 25, of 1144 18th Street in Douglas, Az. In the car, Conklin said they discovered cellphones and $866 in cash. 

Each of the three men were charged with attempting to commit the crime of possession of marijuana over one Kilo, attempting to commit the crime of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and conspiracy counts on both those charges. Rhamdas additionally faces a charge of interfering with an officer/resisting. 

There are 2.2 pounds of marijuana in a Kilo. The marijuana had a street value of around $20,000, Conklin said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.