Five children found living at suspected drug factory in South Norwalk

NORWALK — City police said they found five children living in a suspected drug factory in South Norwalk during a raid on Tuesday.

The city’s Tactical Response Team assisted the Special Services Team conduct a raid on the Lexington Avenue home of 35-year-old Koudris Pounder.

Police said Pounder, a federally convicted felon and member of the Nine Trey Bloods gang in New York, had been under investigation by Norwalk police for three months.

Investigators seized 57.6 grams of crack, 41.11 grams of cocaine, 165 ecstasy pills, 97 grams of marijuana, various jars of formaldehyde, one bag of crystal meth, a .380-caliber handgun and ammunition, as well as a number of gun parts and packaging materials during the raid. Police also recovered $2,231.

Five juveniles were at the home of the time of the raid, police said.

The Department of Children and Families is investigating the incident.

Pounder was charged with operating a drug factory, six counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, three counts of possession of a narcotic with intent to sell, five counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of greater than a half-ounce of cocaine, criminal possession of a firearm, criminally negligent storage of a firearm, criminal possession of ammunition, possession of drug paraphernalia and five counts of risk of injury to a minor. He was held in lieu of $500,000 bond.

Lisa Zapata, 37, who was present at the time of the raid, was also arrested and charged with interfering with a search warrant. Police did not specify how she allegedly interfered.

Zapata was released on a promise to appear in court.

Both Zapata and Pounder were given court dates of Nov. 24.