Federal law enforcement agents have taken a Brazilian man, who was already facing gun and drug charges here on the Island, into custody after he allegedly unlawfully entered the country. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Gustavo Mroczkoski on Sept. 17 in Oak Bluffs, the agency said in a statement Friday. The arrest is the fourth on the Vineyard in two months. 

Mr. Mroczkoski, 28, was arrested by Edgartown police in March as part of a narcotics investigation, according to police reports. Police searched Mr. Mroczkoski’s 10th avenue home in Edgartown and found 3.5 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine, along with pills and ammunition. 

He was initially arraigned in Edgartown District Court for illegally possessing ammunition and drugs, and was later indicted in Dukes County Superior Court. 

Mr. Mroczkoski pleaded not guilty to his charges in July and his bail was set at $50,000. 

Before coming to the Island, Mr. Mroczkoski unlawfully entered the U.S. in 2021 near San Luiz, Ariz., according to ICE, and was arrested by border patrol. He was released on recognizance. 

Mr. Mroczkoski now remains in ICE custody and has a court hearing scheduled on the Island for later this month.

ICE has been busy in the region as of late. In addition to the Vineyard arrests, officers also took five men on Nantucket into custody recently.  

“[ICE] will continue to prioritize the safety of our public by relentlessly pursuing, arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders,” said Patricia Hyde, the regional field office director for ICE’s enforcement removal operations.