Roslindale Man One of 30 Charged in 'Operation Concord' - Big Boston Gang Drug Bust

A Roslindale resident was one of about 30 defendants arrested throughout the Thursday morning by Boston Police, State Police, and federal agents, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office.

Alfonso Malave, 23, or Roslindale, was charged in West Roxbury District Court with trafficking more than 36 grams of cocaine. Malave was allegedly arrested at his American Legion Highway home Thursday morning after the execution of a search warrant led to the recovery of a sour cream container full of a substance believed to be cocaine, according to a press release.

The drug evidence seized will have to be certified at a federal drug testing facility in New York. Malave was held on $25,000 cash bail and will return to court on Feb. 7.

But Malave's arrest is part of a bigger picture. Of the 30 or so defendants, 23 are believed to be gang members and account for 57 convictions for firearms and crimes of violence. Most of those are mainly state convictions that serve as predicate offenses for enhanced sentences under federal guidelines, according to the DA's office. Other defendants are alleged to be "drug suppliers, major customers, or female associates."

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley spoke about Operation Concord, a long-term, multi-agency investigation that targeted the Woodward and Hendry street gangs in Dorchester and Roxbury.

“The indictments announced today represent a major blow against gun violence and drug trafficking in the City of Boston.The prosecutions that follow will be primarily federal, but the benefits will be abundantly clear at the local level.

“The individuals charged and arrested as part of Operation Concord are believed to be directly responsible for the destabilizing effects of drug-related crime and addiction far beyond their homes and neighborhoods. The evidence suggests an interstate network of disturbing size and scope. It stretches as far west as California, as far north as Maine, and as far south as Miami, moving large quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and powerful prescription painkillers.

“But this case is about more than just drugs.  This case is about violence, particularly gun violence, committed to protect those drugs and many times to eliminate rivals. This is what we mean when we talk about the nexus of guns and drugs, here in Boston and in other major cities. 

“It’s a sad fact that violent feuds within small factions of Boston’s Cape Verdean community have riven families and neighborhoods apart for decades.  Those feuds have claimed dozens of lives and left hundreds, even thousands, in very real fear for their lives and safety.  It’s bad enough when one young man takes up arms against another in a rivalry that began before either was born.  But as we’ve seen over and over again, to terrible and tragic effect, that rivalry continues to claim bystanders, children, and other innocents with no stake in the drama. 

“Takedowns like this one don’t just isolate the principals – they make our streets safer for the good and decent people who live, work, and raise families here.