Eduardo Raposo, 34, and Sergio Pimentel, 29, both residing in the basement apartment at 1 Maple Ridge Road in Seabrook, were arraigned yesterday afternoon in Seabrook at Hampton District Court on felony charges of possession of controlled drugs with the intent to distribute. They were ordered held by Judge Francis Frasier on $50,000 cash bail.

Chief Patrick Manthorn announced the arrests yesterday morning as part of his monthly report before Seabrook's Board of Selectmen. His description of the investigation and capture of Raposo and Pimentel preceded his official appointment as chief by the selectmen yesterday.

Manthorn said Tuesday night's arrests were the result of an investigation that took place over past weeks by the Attorney General's Drug Task Force, which acted on suspicions brought to its attention by two Seabrook patrolmen.

When the investigation confirmed the presence of firearms in the household as well as the quantities of drugs, Manthorn said it was decided to call in the Seacoast Emergency Response Team to execute the "no-knock" warrant, which allows the officers to enter unannounced.

The raid took place about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, he said.

"It was a 'break and rake' bust," Manthorn said during an interview after the selectmen's meeting. "They smashed the windows and threw in flash bangs, which are a type of explosive that makes a big noise to confuse them. The flash is a bright light that temporarily blinds them - like night blindness."

With the suspects disoriented by the explosives, SERT agents entered first, followed by Drug Task Force agents to find 2 ounces of cocaine separated into sellable packages, some right on the scale, Manthorn said. In addition, there were prescription drugs in bottles with no labels, and no legal prescriptions for the drugs were found anywhere, he said.

The 2 ounces of cocaine was sectioned up into "8 balls," found on the scale, Manthorn said, with an estimated street value of about $6,000. Manthorn did not know the type of the prescription drugs found at the scene nor their estimated worth.

According to the police report and affidavits of the case, during the "no-knock" raid by the New Hampshire Drug Task Force and Seacoast's Tactical Assault Force, Pimentel stated he was only holding the cocaine for "safe keeping" for Raposo, who really owned the drugs.

Raposo claimed he was only holding the drugs for Pimentel, who actually owned the drugs.

Cocaine is usually sold by the gram, with 28 grams to an ounce, said Seabrook police Sgt. Mark Preston, who was a member of the Attorney General's Drug Task Force earlier in his career. The term 8-ball is used to describe 31/2 grams or one-eighth of an ounce of cocaine, he said.

Weaponry found at the scene consisted of a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, four rifles and two knives. It was information on the weaponry that caused Manthorn to want the Seacoast's Tactical Assault Law Enforcement Team to enter the house first, he said.

Manthorn said neither law enforcement officers nor the defendants were injured during the bust, although the house at 1 Maple Ridge Road did incur some damage. Manthorn had little sympathy yesterday for those who were upset at the damage done to the building during the raid.

Manthorn threw down the gauntlet to drug dealers in town, promising this is only the beginning of his campaign against drugs as he takes over as Seabrook's new police chief.

"This is a wake-up call," Manthorn told selectmen during their televised meeting. "The gloves have come off. We're stopping the game playing. There's more to come, and they know about it on the street."

After the meeting, Manthorn said he hopes to run the Police Department in accordance with the values established by the U.S. Marine Corps, of which he is a veteran. Using those values, Manthorn said, he hopes to bring back the public's respect for the Seabrook Police Department.

Manthorn said the home at 1 Maple Ridge Road is separated into three apartments. He is planning to investigate the legal status of the three apartments, which may defy the town's zoning regulations, he said.

Manthorn said the inhabitants in the other two apartments were taken into custody Tuesday night, but they were held only long enough for police to determine they were not involved in the alleged distribution of illegal drugs.

Unless bail can be made, the two suspects will be held pending their probable cause hearing set for Feb. 11. Frasier told both defendants that they would be allowed another bail hearing once they acquired legal counsels.

Detective Scott Mendes added police are still investigating Raposo's immigration status, believing he may be in the country illegally. Both men speak Portuguese as their first language. If Raposo's bail is met, Frasier stipulated he may not be released if he is found to be in the United States illegally.

Both men work in the construction trade, authorities said. Raposo said he works as an excavator with a Portsmouth builder.