BOSTON — Boston Police Drug Control Units have dismantled a crack cocaine distribution operation that was running in the Edward Everett Square area of Dorchester, arresting three people in two separate raids after months of surveillance at the intersection of Columbia Road, Massachusetts Avenue, and East Cottage Street, according to police.

The investigation, which spanned weeks of intelligence gathering and coordinated units from four BPD districts, resulted in the seizure of approximately 27 grams of crack cocaine, drug packaging materials, a digital scale, and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The first bust

In early February, officers identified Christopher Docanto, 33, of Dorchester as a suspected distributor of crack cocaine operating out of Edward Everett Square.

After a months-long investigation, officers obtained search warrants for Docanto and his residence at 7 Elder Street in Dorchester. On February 2, members of the C-11 and B-2 Drug Control Units watched Docanto leave his apartment and drive toward the South Bay area. They pulled him over near 1100 Massachusetts Avenue and executed the warrants.

Officers seized his cellphone, cash, and keys to his apartment and a safe inside.

Back at the Elder Street apartment, officers found approximately 26.9 grams of crack cocaine along with a digital scale, plastic containers, and packaging materials consistent with drug distribution.

They also found Rachel Lubanski, 21, of Dorchester, inside the apartment. A records check revealed she had an active warrant for possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance. She was arrested on the spot.

Docanto was charged with trafficking in cocaine, 18 grams or more. Both are expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.

The second bust

The crackdown didn't stop there. On February 27, officers from three additional Drug Control Units (E-13 Jamaica Plain, E-5 West Roxbury, and C-6 South Boston) moved on a second suspected dealer tied to the same intersection.

Roni Batista Fonseca, 27, of Dorchester was stopped while walking on East Cottage Street. Officers had obtained search warrants for both his person and his residence on Chase Street.

During the search, officers found a plastic bag containing four individually packaged bags of cocaine, a wallet, and cash. A subsequent search of his Chase Street apartment turned up nothing additional.

Batista Fonseca was charged with possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance and is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.

Part of a pattern

The Edward Everett Square busts are the latest in a string of drug operations BPD has targeted in Dorchester, where crack cocaine distribution has remained a persistent problem despite repeated enforcement actions. Last year, officers seized 380 grams of crack and firearms from a Dorchester hideout and arrested a career criminal with 178 grams of crack in a separate bust.

The fact that it took months of surveillance and units from four districts to take down a crack operation at one of Dorchester's most visible intersections says something about how entrenched the problem remains.