Man arrested with loaded gun and $44,000 in cash next door to West Roxbury police station, police say

Officers from the E-5 drug unit didn't have far to go yesterday to arrest Rafael Vargas Mariano - they just walked next door on Centre Street to the 7-Eleven and there he was, police say.

Police say drug-unit officers had the store under watch as part of an investigation when they arrested Vargas Mariano, also known as Yordani Miguel Romero, around 3:50 p.m.

Officers were able to safely recover a loaded .380 caliber Ruger handgun from the waistband area of the suspect’s pants. Additionally, the officers seized $44,240.00 in U.S. Currency from inside a plastic bag the suspect was carrying.

Police did not provide further details of the investigation.