HOLYOKE — A joint effort with police and a variety of other law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of four men, who were all allegedly armed, and the confiscation of five guns and heroin, cocaine and marijuana.



"All the weapons were loaded. This was a dangerous operation," Police Lt. James Albert said Monday.



On Sunday, police arrested Julio Rosado-Vega, 18, of 86 North East St., Kevin Echevarria, 27, of 565 South Canal St., and Freddie Rivera, 44, of 59 Mosher St., all of Holyoke, and Raymond Guzman, 25, of 768 Belmont Ave., Springfield.



The four face a variety of charges including five counts of possession or carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition without permits, firearm use in a felony, and possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute. Two were also charged with possession of marijuana, Albert said.



According to police, the arrests happened at about 5:25 p.m. Sunday in the area of North Bridge and Mosher streets after police received a report of people in the area with guns. When they arrived in the area of 89-91 Mosher St., they spotted a number of people in the back, who ran. Police chased and caught the suspects and arrested them.



Police recovered a variety of ammunition and five guns – a .45 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, a .22 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol, a .45 caliber High Point semi-automatic pistol, a .45 caliber Remington semi-automatic pistol and a 7.62 caliber semi-automatic assault rifle. Officers also recovered 19 bags of heroin, three bags of cocaine and six bags of marijuana, Albert said.

The Holyoke Police Department's narcotics, uniformed patrol and K-9 units were supported by the FBI's Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, The Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit and Air Wing and the Holyoke Fire Department assisted in the search by providing their aerial ladder.

The suspects were expected to be arraigned in court on Monday, but arraignment details were not immediately available.