Dugan Arnett

What Richard is saying is that Oliveira let his CI keep and sell a kilo of cocaine. I know this is a serious accusation, but I've dug into this and I found two other people with direct knowledge of this investigation. And independently, they told the same story. To be clear, Oliveira has never been charged with a crime or disciplined by the department.

What Richard is saying is that Oliveira let his CI keep and sell a kilo of cocaine. I know this is a serious accusation, but I've dug into this and I found two other people with direct knowledge of this investigation. And independently, they told the same story. To be clear, Oliveira has never been charged with a crime or disciplined by the department.

I wanted to speak to him directly, but he denied my interview requests. I asked specific questions about this raid, but they were ignored. Some might argue that the ends justify the means, that Oliveira could be justified in letting a kilo or so slip to a dealer in exchange for getting more kilos off the street.

I wanted to speak to him directly, but he denied my interview requests. I asked specific questions about this raid, but they were ignored. Some might argue that the ends justify the means, that Oliveira could be justified in letting a kilo or so slip to a dealer in exchange for getting more kilos off the street.

But not only does it run counter to the objective of drug enforcement, it's also illegal to According to Richard and these other sources, Oliveira lied in police reports, pushed a false story, and let a known dealer keep a lot of drugs. And he was able to do this because he used the words confidential informant. Doing so allowed all of this alleged misconduct to go unquestioned.

But not only does it run counter to the objective of drug enforcement, it's also illegal to According to Richard and these other sources, Oliveira lied in police reports, pushed a false story, and let a known dealer keep a lot of drugs. And he was able to do this because he used the words confidential informant. Doing so allowed all of this alleged misconduct to go unquestioned.

For Richard, this case marked a major turning point. Richard certainly didn't consider himself a saint. Like any successful drug cop, he often navigated policing's gray areas. But he says there was no gray area in this case.

For Richard, this case marked a major turning point. Richard certainly didn't consider himself a saint. Like any successful drug cop, he often navigated policing's gray areas. But he says there was no gray area in this case.

The official story was that, quote, good, hard police work was behind it all.

The official story was that, quote, good, hard police work was behind it all.

Lance Block is a Florida-based attorney who's fought to change the way police are allowed to use confidential informants. He says the kind of alleged misconduct I've been telling you about isn't unique to New Bedford.

Lance Block is a Florida-based attorney who's fought to change the way police are allowed to use confidential informants. He says the kind of alleged misconduct I've been telling you about isn't unique to New Bedford.

Bobby Richard says he saw it firsthand, admits to taking part in some of it himself. But he says that Paul Oliveira took it to the extreme. He was reinventing the wheel, so to speak. From his perspective, the raid on the high-level Colombian dealer changed things.

Bobby Richard says he saw it firsthand, admits to taking part in some of it himself. But he says that Paul Oliveira took it to the extreme. He was reinventing the wheel, so to speak. From his perspective, the raid on the high-level Colombian dealer changed things.

You're prone to do it again, right? Richard and other sources told me that's essentially what happened. And soon, Oliveira became known for a particular tactic, something called a setup case. He got into doing these cases where he was controlling both ends of the process. Setup cases were allegedly Olivera's specialty. And here's how they work.

You're prone to do it again, right? Richard and other sources told me that's essentially what happened. And soon, Oliveira became known for a particular tactic, something called a setup case. He got into doing these cases where he was controlling both ends of the process. Setup cases were allegedly Olivera's specialty. And here's how they work.

They require a cop to essentially partner with a drug dealer. The dealer brings the drugs to the house.

They require a cop to essentially partner with a drug dealer. The dealer brings the drugs to the house.

What you're saying is he was arranging to have the drugs put in the target location that he would then execute the raid at. Over and over and over, yeah. Richard isn't my only source on this. Another former drug detective said the same thing. I was even able to speak with one of Oliveira's former informants.

What you're saying is he was arranging to have the drugs put in the target location that he would then execute the raid at. Over and over and over, yeah. Richard isn't my only source on this. Another former drug detective said the same thing. I was even able to speak with one of Oliveira's former informants.