Mom Of North Branford Man Arrested In Clinton "Sad" Over Drug Arrest

Editor's note: This article is courtesy of Clinton Patch. North Branford police said they were unaware of the investigation into Kuntal Patel.

The young man arrested for allegedly running a drug factory out of his family’s business is “at home” said his mother as she continued to work the front counter at the Shell gas station in Clinton.

Clinton Police, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Madison Police Department's K-9 narcotics team, executed a search and seizure warrant at the 196 E. Main St. gasoline station early Feb. 22.

They arrested Kuntal Patel, 28, of 722 Forest Road in the Northford section of North Branford and charged him with possession of marijuana with the intent to sell and operating a drug factory.

His mother spoke to the Clinton Patch early Feb. 23 and although was cooperative, had little light to shed on her son’s actions. She said she had not yet spoken to Kuntal since his arrest the day before. She said she usually worked the morning shift at the gas station with Kuntal working the late afternoon and evening shift. The station is open from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m., she confirmed. When asked, Mrs. Patel said she had no idea of her son’s actions and just shook her head. She said she was “sad.”

The Shell station owned by the Patel family is located on East Main Street at the Beach Park Road intersection in Clinton.

According to police, they searched the vehicle and residence of the suspect, Kuntal Patel, and found two pounds of marijuana, a quarter ounce of magic mushrooms, some hashish, and drug paraphernalia including containers, a heat sealer and weighing devices. They also found approximately $10,000 in cash.

Police believe Patel stored the drugs at his home and the family business and sold drugs out of the business location.

He was released on a written promise to appear in Middletown Superior court on March 8, 2011.