A convicted felon who had been deported, then re-entered the country illegally, was arrested by Gloucester and Peabody police as part of a month-long drug sweep in Essex County.
The drug sweep, carried out by a cadre of law enforcement agencies, resulted in the arrests of 156 defendants, and the seizure of more than 118 pounds or 54 kilos of cocaine, 138 grams of heroin and six firearms. The cocaine itself had a street value of $5.4 million.
Of the 156 people arrested, 75 were charged with drug distribution or trafficking. Police served 13 search warrants and took six guns off the streets since the raids began Sept. 28, and ended Oct. 30. They also seized five motor vehicles and four to seven pounds of marijuana.
On Oct. 22, Juan Lara, 34, was arrested in Danvers on heroin distribution charges by members of the Essex County Drug Task Force, along with Gloucester and Peabody police detectives. Lara was convicted previously of drug distribution charges, was deported, but had re-entered the country illegally. There was also a warrant for his arrest on a charge of assault and battery on a corrections officer.
Focusing primarily in Lawrence, Lynn, Methuen and Haverhill, the sweep was coordinated by Massachusetts State Police Lt. Alan Zani, commander of the Essex County Drug Task Force assigned to the Office of District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett. Detectives from each of those cities were joined by members of the Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI Gang Unit, Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, and the State Police Troop A Community Action Team.
In addition, members of the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section and officials from the Lawrence, Lynn and Haverhill District Court Probation Departments took part in the early to mid-morning raids, when fugitives were arrested on warrants and, or defendants were arrested for probation violations.
"We launched this collaborative sweep to target street drug sales in Essex County, and to reduce the troubling level of violent crimes being committed in our cities," said Blodgett. "Where there are drugs, there are firearms and acts of violence. We will vigorously pursue and prosecute dealers who would sell drugs to our children, and will continue to work with every local, state and federal agency to ensure the safety of our citizens."
"An important part of the mission of the state police is the ability to flood targeted areas with large numbers of personnel to assist our local partners and the district attorney," said Col. Mark F. Delaney, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. "Our Essex County surge achieved that goal - to take lawbreakers, and the weapons and vehicles they use and the drugs they sell, off the streets."
Some of the more significant arrests are:
On Oct. 7, a Swampscott business owner was arrested for allegedly selling OxyContin and marijuana from his convenience store at 205 Burrill St.
On Oct. 9, in North Andover, police seized a handgun and 54 kilos of cocaine and arrested seven suspects. The defendants were taken into federal custody, and will be prosecuted in U.S. District Court.
On Oct. 21, an investigation that spanned Haverhill and Southern New Hampshire resulted in the arrests of six defendants on cocaine and weapons charges.
Also on Oct. 21 in Lynn, police arrested Handy Iraola, on a probation violation and found him to be in possession of a loaded .45 caliber handgun. In addition to the weapons charge, he was charged with receiving stolen property and possession of marijuana.
In Lynn on Oct. 26, Rod Perez, 37, was arrested on charges of trafficking in heroin and a school zone violation.
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