Andover Police Arrest Three Men Believed to be Part of a Major Drug Trafficking Ring

Photo courtesy of Andover Police Department.

Andover Police arrested three men who were believed to be part of a major drug trafficking operation, according to Police Chief Patrick Keefe.

Detectives assigned to the Andover Police Department Substance Abuse Unit were conducting surveillance of a gas station on River Road on Wednesday night when they noticed three suspicious men come and go from two vehicles.

The drivers exited the vehicles and began talking to each other. Detectives approached to talk to them. At that time, the man who stayed in the second vehicle fled in that vehicle out of the parking lot. Uniformed officers quickly stopped the fleeing vehicle and placed the driver in custody. There, in plain view, officers observed white powdery substance consistent with cocaine or another drug, according to police.

The suspects were placed in custody and and detectives soon located two large packages of white powder wrapped in plastic. The substance later tested positive for cocaine. Two kilograms, with an approximate street value of $80,000, were seized.

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All three men were arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws. They are:

• Roberto Reyes, 49, of Bronx, N.Y.
• Edward Tejada, 31, of Manhattan, N.Y.
• Hector Moquea, 31, of Bronx, N.Y.

Additionally, Tejada was charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and operating to endanger.

Detectives also found masks, cutting agents, and other drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, according to authorities.

Chief Keefe praised the diligent work of the detectives and uniformed patrol personnel.

“Drugs abuse is one of the great evils in society, and we will not tolerate the trafficking of illegal drugs through our community,” Chief Keefe said. “Our Andover Police Detectives did an excellent job in exercising patience and diligence to take three drug traffickers off the street and remove a large quantity of cocaine from potentially hitting the streets.”

The suspects were held without bail pending arraignment in Lawrence District Court.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.