Merrimack Valley Bust Seizes $1 Million In Fentanyl, 11 Arrested

LAWRENCE, MA — Eleven people were charged and fentanyl worth about $1 million of street value was seized in a bust last week, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

The investigation began in November of last year when Salem, NH police provided information regarding a Lawrence-based drug-dealing organization that was supplying fentanyl throughout the Merrimack Valley.

Investigators built a case and obtained search warrants for five locations in Lawrence and one each in Lynn and Methuen.

On Thursday morning, federal, state, and local police executed the warrants.

At one location in Lawrence, a woman tried to rush a child with a backpack out of a home when police were entering. Investigators stopped the woman and child and found a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition inside the backpack. The woman was charged with child endangerment.

At a home on Whitman Street in Lawrence, police discovered an active fentanyl processing plant on the home's third floor and found unidentified powders and an overwhelming smell of ammonia.

The state's Clandestine Lab Enforcement Team was asked to respond with specialized apparatus and testing equipment. The Lawrence Inspectional Services and Health Departments responded to investigate code violations and condemn the third-floor apartment, where fentanyl was found.

In total, police seized more than 18 kilograms of fentanyl, two semi-automatic pistols, about $10,000 in suspected drug money, a Mercedes Benz, and a portable hydraulic compartment suspected to have been used to hide drugs and money.

The following people were charged:

• Rafael Saldana Dias, 26, of Lawrence, was charged with four counts of trafficking a class A substance over 36 grams, one count of trafficking a class A substance over 200 grams, and conspiracy. His bail was set at $250,000
• Yosmeiry Martinez Ramon, 21, of Lawrence, was charged with trafficking a class A substance over 200 grams and conspiracy. His bail was set at $2,500.
• Freddy Alexander Suazo Tejeda, 36, of Lawrence, was charged with trafficking a class A substance over 200 grams and conspiracy. His bail was set at $100,000.
• Rafelin Lugo Tejada, 32, of Lawrence, was charged with trafficking a class A substance over 200 grams, unlawful possession of ammunition, and child endangerment. Bail was set at $2,500.
• Augusto Moscat, 39, of Lawrence, was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of a firearm, and child endangerment. Bail was set at $2,500.
• Henderson Martinez, 34, of Lawrence, was charged with trafficking a class A substance over 36 grams. Bail was set at $100,000.
• Wilkin Antonio Perez, 26, of Lawrence, was charged with trafficking a class A substance over 200 grams. Bail was set at $10,000.
• Marcos Santos, 37, of Lawrence, was charged with conspiracy. He was released on a promise to appear in court.
• Miguel Medrano, 55, of Lynn, was charged with trafficking a class A substance over 200 grams. His bail was set for $250,000.
• Henderson Martin, 34, of Lawrence, was charged with trafficking a class A substance over 200 grams.