Three Danbury residents have been charged with operating a drug factory, following an 8 month long investigation by the Special Investigations Division and the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

Detectives say the target of the investigation was 49-year old Peter Paul Vetere.  Police seized a large amount of narcotics, cash and a loaded 9mm handgun when he was stopped while entering his vehicle.  A search warrant was carried out at his Shelter Rock Road apartment and detectives seized a large quantity of methamphetamine, fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine and marijuana.  Several hundred plastic bags of packaging material and scales used for the distribution of narcotics were also seized. 

Danbury Police say an area in the home was set up for the packaging of various narcotics for sale. 

Vetere was charged with possession with intent to sell over 1 ounce of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a drug factory, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal possession of ammunition, ghost gun restrictions, four counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell and five counts of possession of a controlled substance.  Two people at the home during the search were also charged. 

30-year old Cassandra Richter and 31-year old Matthew Melillo were each charged with possession with intent to sell over 1 ounce of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, operating a drug factory, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of possession with intent to sell over 1 ounce of cocaine and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.